Cue Card team expecting plenty of progress ahead of Betfair Chase outing

Cue Card is expected to be spot on for his bid to win the Betfair Chase for a third time after needing his seasonal debut at Wetherby on Saturday.

Colin Tizzard's top-class performer faded into third place behind Irish Cavalier in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, a race he won 12 months earlier, after leading a long way out.

Connections plan to use more patient tactics when he returns to Haydock on November 19 for the three-mile feature he won in 2013 and 2015.

''We told Paddy (Brennan) not to be afraid to liven him up if you're going well. Hindsight's a great thing,'' Joe Tizzard, assistant to his father, told At The Races.

''He was in a lovely position. If he got him standing off down the back then we told Paddy not to break his stride. It backfired.

''I've seen him this morning and he's absolutely fine and he will come on for his run.

''He's easier to ride now and we're not used to seeing him switched off and behind horses. I think next time we'll just leave it to Paddy and wait a bit longer on him.

''He needed his first run. I was at Ascot but dad said he blew hard. Although he'd had a racecourse gallop, he's an older horse and you can only do so much at home. He'll be bang on for Haydock next time.''

The Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on November 26 is next for Native River after he pleased the Tizzard team when runner-up to Silsol in the bet365 Hurdle on the same card.

''It was a perfect run for him,'' said Tizzard jnr.

''We just used it to see if it opened up other avenues. The main target next is the Hennessy, but after that it's whether we go back to the World Hurdle route.

''He ran a blinder and it was an ideal prep for Newbury.''