CONNECTIONS of Cue Card are once again after the big bucks after he dazzled at Haydock on Saturday to claim the Betfair Chase for a third time in four years.

Colin Tizzard’s brilliant performer won the first two legs required for the £1million Chase Triple Crown last season, only to heartbreakingly fall in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when very much in contention.

Leg two, the 32Red King George VI Chase, is again the next objective after Cue Card defeated the brave Coneygree by 15 lengths.

Giving an update on Cue Card’s condition following his triumph at Haydock, Tizzard said: “He’s absolutely fine.

“I’ve watched it (the Betfair Chase) back a couple of times, and it was never really in any doubt.

“It’s amazing how he handles that ground now.

“Three years ago we might not have even run him on it.

“We always thought he wanted nice ground but he won his first Betfair on very soft ground and he’s loved it ever since.

“It’s strange. He just seems to float on it because he’s not a horse with a knee action at all.

“Paddy (Brennan) was very good on him and said he was never even thinking he would not win.

“The races pick themselves for him. Even without the bonus we knew where he’d be going at the start of the season.”

Come March, Tizzard could be in the strange situation of saddling the Gold Cup favourite Thistlecrack, while gunning for the bonus with Cue Card in the same race.

Asked what it would feel like to potentially have the first two in the betting for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Tizzard said: “It would be lovely.”