CUE Card emphatically returned to form by winning the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Colin Tizzard’s nine-year-old has had his problems in recent years, but everything came together beautifully on his first outing for 185 days.

Cue Card was never too far away from long-time leader Sam Winner until Paddy Brennan went for broke with four fences to go.

The 11-4 favourite still held a commanding lead after the last, but the David Pipe-trained duo of Dynaste and Ballynagour were bustled into contention.

Tizzard’s inmate had enough momentum, though, and was kept up to his work to collect by three and three-quarters of a length from the staying-on Dynaste.

The Milborne Port handler said: ‘’It was very difficult to be too bullish, but the last six weeks he’s being good.

"He’s got an entry in the Hennessy (Newbury) and he’ll definitely be entered in the Betfair (Chase at Haydock). I know where Bob and Jean (Bishop, owners) would like to go — Haydock for the flat track. But if the handicapper doesn’t put him up, maybe we’ll look at the Hennessy.

“After last season it’s great to see him come back -— you’d have to say he looked back to his best.

“It was a lovely ride by Paddy. I asked him whether he was going to go down the inner or the outer and he said he was going to do both.

“Paddy is a very confident guy and he’s been confident ever since he started schooling him.

“His work has been very good of late, but as a few of mine were blowing up first time, we decided we couldn’t come here without giving him a racecourse gallop (at Wincanton).

“We only did it on Monday, but he went a good two miles and maybe that’s helped him.

“He had a trapped oesophagus last season and it was literally blocking his whole air pipe. I don’t know how he was managing to trot, never mind gallop.

“You’ll never hear me say anything against Cue Card.’’ Brennan said: ‘’It’s great to get back on a horse of his calibre.

“He was brilliant throughout the race. He had a massive look at the last (fence), but once he got to the back of it he was away again.’’ n Harry's Fry's Rock On Ruby was second in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby.