CUE Card showed he was back to his brilliant best with a superb display as he regained his crown in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

Colin Tizzard's stable star has had well-documented troubles since being successful in this race two years ago and was well-beaten by Silviniaco Conti 12 months ago.

However, he showed he was recapturing his form when winning the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby three weeks ago.

Silviniaco Conti made a gallant bid to win the Betfair for a third time as he set a good gallop, but Cue Card (7-4) was never far away.

The writing was on the wall when Cue Card ranged alongside the 5-4 favourite before the four fences in the straight.

Paddy Brennan let the nine-year-old jump his way to the front after the third last and Cue Card drew away to take the prize by seven lengths.

Tizzard said: "He's done it easier today (than two years ago). It was always going to happen, I thought.

"It's lovely to have him back. We've taken them all on and he's done it really well.

"We've had to deal with his problems and now he's back to his very best.

"He's not a tearaway anymore. You can ride him how you like now.

"There's no reason to run away from Kempton. It's the next stop, I'd say.

"If he's in the form he's in now, the Gold Cup is the ultimate race, so why not?"

Cue Card was cut to 5-1 from 16-1 with Paddy Power for the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.