Cue Card is likely to head straight to the Cheltenham Festival without another run after confirming he is in the big league with a fine performance yesterday.

Backstage is not certain to take up an entry in the Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday.

ON WEDNESDAY it was Moscow Flyer who passed the baton onto a new generation. Yesterday, Baracouda’s connections were left pondering a similar path after a gallant but unsuccessful bid for a third Cheltenham success.