IRISH Cavalier caused a 16-1 surprise in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby when denying the previous two winners Menorah and Cue Card in a thrilling finish.

Last year’s hero, Colin Tizzard-trained Cue Card, who went on to win the Betfair Chase and King George, setting up a tilt at a £1million bonus which only ended when he fell three out in the Gold Cup, was an odds-on favourite to repeat the dose.

Ridden aggressively by Paddy Brennan, Cue Card was in front early on the second circuit but by the third-last Irish Cavalier had gone by on the outside and Menorah was beginning to stay on again.

To Cue Card’s credit he stuck gamely to the task, but once he got in too close to the last the game was over, finishing third as Irish Cavalier held the fastfinishing Menorah by threequarters of a length.

Connections of Cue Card are still aiming at the Betfair Chase, but despite his penalty, his performance was still slightly disappointing given last year’s highs.

Trainer Colin Tizzard said: “He just got tired, that’s all. I thought he was going to win, but he tired after the secondlast.

“He’s only been beaten two lengths, so we’ll go to Haydock and see where we are at.

“I’d sooner he won, but I’m delighted with him.”