MELISSA JONES: On Cue for a big performance

CUE Card is taken to land what is a mouth-watering mini Gold Cup at Haydock this afternoon.
Branded a likely non-stayer in some quarters, I’m keen to disagree, as the flat track and his guaranteed fitness are likely to play to his strengths in the Betfair Chase at 3.00.
The main protagonists like Bobs Worth and Silviniaco Conti lack a run and find this demanding test as their first start of the season.
Cue Card has already had an outing, over an inadequate 2m 1f at Exeter, where he was saddled with a massive weight.
It’s hard for horses to give more than a stone away and he is better equipped here off level weights.
The sixth placed horse there, Fago, was well beaten but won yesterday, giving a little boost to the form.
Bobs Worth and Silviniaco set the benchmark, the former having taken the Hennessy on his reappearance last year, while Nicholls’ charge was my fancy for the Gold Cup, and was bang in contention when falling three out.
It is hard to choose which one will out on top in this rematch, but at 7-1 Cue Card is the value call and I think he’ll beat both of them.
He stayed on strongly over 2m 5f in the Ryanair at Cheltenham, which indicates and extra three furlongs on a flatter track will be within his compass.
Forget the King George run, his first try at today’s trip, as the ground was heavy and he made a bad mistake at the first.
The trainer wouldn’t be having another go for the fun of it and today is the equivalent of Cue Card’s Gold Cup.
Before Zuider Zee’s comeback run 11 days ago, his trainer said he would be all the better for it as he had become a bit burly on his summer break.
The trainer’s horses seem to go well in these types of races and he can see off 11 rivals in Ascot’s 1.50.
Until it is proven otherwise today I’m willing to take the win of Home Run last time as a bit of a fluke and despite bottom weight he faces rivals here open to more progression.
Monetary Fund is well capable of making the frame in Haydock’s 2.25 and for one with his ability, remains on a decent enough mark.
His run for this column last weekend can be bettered and the trainer is in sparkling form.
Of the favourites I fear Gullinbursti the most to trouble the each-way selection.
Bally Sands can take the Cambridgeshire National, Huntington’s 1.40, if he can sort his jumping out.