COLIN Tizzard's Cue Card was beaten into second by Waiting Patiently on an emotional day at Ascot for the Grade One Betfair Ascot Chase.

Until his death two weeks ago, the seven-year-old had been trained by Malcolm Jefferson and is now in the care of his daughter, Ruth.

Only 24 hours earlier, swathes of the northern racing fraternity had gathered for Jefferson's funeral and his brightest hope subsequently landed one of the biggest races of the season, with the 2-1 favourite denying dual winner Cue Card in a pulsating renewal.

Cue Card looked right back to his best under Paddy Brennan and took over from Speredek going down the back straight.

It was the veteran who led into the straight, with Top Notch struggling and Coney Island already pulled up.

Brennan stole a look under his arm but he would have seen Hughes still sat motionless and Frodon still in contention, too.

Waiting Patiently went to the front approaching the last, but he met that on the wrong stride, giving Cue Card another chance.

Hughes grabbed the rail and kept Waiting Patiently up to his work as he idled in front, allowing Cue Card to close to within two and three-quarter lengths.

Cue Card, victorious in 2013 and 2017, was applauded both entering and leaving the unsaddling enclosure.

Milborne Port handler, Tizzard said: "That was lovely. He gives everything and it's a serious horse that's beat him today.

"We've had eight seasons and he's not run in anything other than big races, apart from his fist bumper.

"He's just a pleasure to train."

Meanwhile, Regal Encore (6-1) is to head straight to the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree after returning to form with a second course and distance success in the Keltbray Swinley Limited Handicap Chase.

Anthony Honeyball's 10-year-old, who was eighth at Aintree last spring, is a 33-1 chance with Coral and Paddy Power after outpointing Minella Daddy under Richie McLernon.

The Mosterton trainer said: "It's a good sharpener because they've gone a good gallop. He travelled well and we know he stays well.

"He'll go straight for the National now. We'll give him a pop over National-type fences like we did last year about 10 days to two weeks before the race."