CUE CARD can remind everyone of his brilliance by winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock for a third time.

Despite being the highest-rated chaser in Britain, the Colin Tizzard-trained 10-year-old will have plenty of folk happy to take him on as the likely favourite.

This will be largely down to his reverse in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, when he could only finish third behind Irish Cavalier and Menorah.

That defeat was a surprise but it should not be allowed to happen on Merseyside.

Hindsight in a beautiful thing in racing but maybe Tizzard and jockey Paddy Brennan would have changed tactics if they had their chance again at the Yorkshire track.

Cue Card had been off the track since April but perhaps his trainer overestimated how fit he actually was.

Brennan went into the lead quite a long way from home, which was probably not the canniest of manoeuvres as his partner grew laborious under pressure from Irish Cavalier and Menorah.

Had he been held on to for longer, it is entirely possible that Cue Card could have preserved energy for when it mattered the most.

Irish Cavalier renews rivalry in today's Betfair Chase but that rival now meets the Tizzard inmate on level terms, whereas he was in receipt of 4lb in the Charlie Hall.

Menorah is also back for another go but the ageing chaser will not be a happy bunny if the forecast rain arrives. With all this in mind, it is quite easy to see the Wetherby form turned on its head.

Coneygree, the 2015 Gold Cup hero, will be the populist vote but the chances of him winning are surely eroded by the fact he has spent so long in the wilderness.

Nap selection Cue Card, conversely, will be fitter and stronger with that Wetherby run in safe-keeping, while conditions at Haydock should be very similar to when he won this race in 2013 and last season.

In a race in which the cream nearly always rises to the top, last year's King George hero fulfils that important criteria doing proverbial handstands.

The Betfair Exchange 'Fixed Brush' Handicap Hurdle never quite sets the pulse racing, even in spite of its competitive nature.

Be that as it may, there is usually a bit of value knocking around, with YALA ENKI this year likely to be available at a good price.

Venetia Williams' inmate was well fancied 12 months ago but he set a breathless gallop – as is his wont – and was reeled in two from home, eventually finishing fifth.

Yala Enki, ridden by Harry Cobden, does not look an obvious contender to set the record straight but his form since Haydock was really impressive and he even ended up competing in Grade Ones.

With the ground very much in his favour, it would be no surprise if Williams has done a lot of work with this six-year-old, who has gone well in the past as a fresh horse, in readiness for his comeback.

There is some fine racing at Ascot, with YANWORTH the major player in the Coral Hurdle with Barry Geraghty on board.

Alan King's six-year-old looked a quality horse last season and although he could not quite justify short-priced favouritism in the Neptune at Cheltenham, he will be winning Grade Ones this winter.

The decision to bypass the Betfair Chase with GOD'S OWN can give Tom George that warm glow of satisfaction if he lands the Stella Artois 1965 Chase.

Despite having to give away weight to the field, this looks a perfect race for the two-times Grade One winner, who might have struggled over three miles at Haydock.