Jockey Brennan is back in the big time thanks to Cue Card

GALWAY jockey Paddy Brennan achieved the second biggest win of his career when steering the rejuvenated Cue Card to an impressive success in the prestigious Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

The Ardrahan man, who memorably steered Imperial Commander to Gold Cup glory at the 2010 Cheltenham National Hunt festival, will now have hopes of emulating that feat on the popular nine-year-old next March.

Colin Tizzard’s stable star has had well-documented troubles since being triumphant in this race in 2013 and was well-beaten by Silviniaco Conti 12 months ago, but a wind operation during the summer has helped restore Cue Card to his best form.

Previously twice successful at the big Cheltenham meeting in the Festival Bumper and Ryanair Chase, Brennan’s mount had rolled back the years when landing the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month.

With Cue Card’s regular jockey Joe Tizzard having hung up his riding boots, connections were on the look out for a new pilot for this season and opted for Brennan after he guaranteed his availability throughout the campaign.

Although stable jockey at Tom George’s yard, Brennan has experienceed a couple of relatively low profile years, but his partnership with Cue Card had propelled the Galway rider back into the big time.

Silviniaco Conti made a gallant bid to win the Betfair for a third time last Saturday as he set a good gallop, but the heavily backed Cue Card (7/4) was never far away and the writing was on the wall when Brennan’s mount ranged alongside the 5/4 favourite before the four fences in the straight.

Cue Card hit the front after the third last and the outcome was never in doubt as he had seven lengths to spare at the line. The King George at Kempton will now be the horse’s next target.

“That was unbelievable. When I rode Imperial Commander I never thought I’d have the chance to sit on another horse as good or even a Gold Cup horse. The way he’s done it out there today, he felt like a Gold Cup horse, said Brennan afterwards.

“It was great to get back on a good horse at Wetherby and today he was awesome. A big win on a big Saturday, I’d like to dedicate this win to everyone in France, in Paris. I was lucky enough to ride some winners in Auteuil and we are all thinking about them,” he added.