Amazing horse race: CUE CARD beats Vautour in epic King George VI Chase (2015)

What a remarkable race. And listen to that crowd in the closing stages!

This is a Christmas cracker alright as the festive highlight throws up a thrilling spectacle, Cue Card landing the 2015 King George VI Chase at Kempton Park in extraordinary fashion under jockey Paddy Brennan for trainer Colin Tizzard and owner Jean Bishop.

The brilliant Vautour had won nine of his ten starts for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh and travelled like the class act at the head of affairs, looking well in control after the second-last fence with Cue Card gamely sticking to his task and Don Cossack spilling out of contention at the same obstacle.

Yet while the top-class Vautour needed the line in the closing stages, strong stayer Cue Card was galvanised under an all-action ride towards the line to prevail by a head in a remarkable finish in a remarkable running of this great jumps contest.

Brennan said: "It's the best feeling of my whole career. I can't take it in. I've beaten one of the best horses in training and beaten one of the best jockeys I've ever ridden against."

Cue Card went on to fall in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on hios next start, falling three fences from home just before he was about to play his part. The race was won by Don Cossack, the faller here at Kempton Park. Vautour followed up with an easy success in the Ryanair Chase - his third Cheltenham Festival victory - before his sad and untimely passing that summer at the age of seven.

2015 WILLIAM HILL KING GEORGE VI CHASE FULL FINISHING ORDER:

1 Cue Card (9/2)
2 Vautour (3/1)
3 Al Ferof (16/1)
4 Smad Place (8/1)
5 Irish Cavalier (40/1)
F Don Cossack (15/8F)
F Valseur Lido (25/1)
PU Ballynagour (66/1)
PU Silviniaco Conti (9/1)