WETHERBY was packed to the rafters last Saturday, with many racegoers wishing to catch a glimpse of the star Cue Card in the Charlie Hall Chase, a race he'd won 12 months earlier.

However, Cue Card faded into third close home, leaving the glory to Irish Cavalier and very promising young jockey Jonathan Moore.

Not many conditionals get the leg up in Graded races due to their inability to claim, but trainer Rebecca Curtis' faith in Moore was handsomely repaid as he teased, kidded, nurdled, cajoled, nudged and then lifted his mount home.

For much of the race, it looked like the prize was Cue Card's for the taking. Last season's three-time Grade One winner jumped superbly, was sent on in the back straight and, turning for home, Paddy Brennan looked to have his rivals where he wanted them – in his wake and under pressure.

But as Brennan wound things up on the 8-11 favourite, Irish Cavalier would not go away. Brennan had Cue Card going flat out and yet his pursuer remained.

Then, between the fourth and third last, the unthinkable happened and Cue Card was headed. Moore sent his mount on, but he was never quite able to put the race to bed. The last two winners of the Charlie Hall – Cue Card and Menorah – simply would not give up and, as Irish Cavalier began to paddle, they closed in as the finish became as much a test of heart as legs and lungs.

If Irish Cavalier had more heart and better lungs and legs than his rivals, Moore brought the brains and he punched the air as he crossed the line for just the 50th – and by far biggest – win of a career that looks full of promise.

"It's days like this that you dream about and it was the chance to be able to ride horses like him that I came over to ride," said Moore. "I really asked him up at the fourth-last and he's so genuine he came up for me, and he did that again at the third-last."

Curtis could not be happier with her new employee and, explaining the connection, said: "Jonathan rode At Fishers Cross at Aintree and rode him well and then he partnered this horse to win at Punchestown and I was impressed with his riding, so I offered him the job."

On Irish Cavalier, she added: "We fancied him to run well today, though we didn't necessarily think he would beat Cue Card and we weren't certain that he would stay three miles, but he clearly did.

"Apart from a couple of blips when my horses weren't right last season, he was really progressive and ended up winning a Punchestown handicap with top weight."

Curtis could take a similar route to Cue Card last year, with the Betfair Chase next on the agenda, for which the sponsors have inserted him at 12-1. "I would think we will go for the top staying chases now, possibly starting with the Betfair," she said.

"He's a horse who takes his racing well, in fact he thrives on it. He ran twice in four days at Punchestown last year and ran better on the second occasion, and last year he ran at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown and ended up winning at Punchestown."

Colin Tizzard deemed himself happy enough with Cue Card and is hopeful his superstar can improve for the run. He was pushed out for a third Betfair Chase next month, with Stan James a standout 11-4.

"I thought he ran a fantastic race. It was a horse race and we're not going to win them all," he said. "I thought he was going to win it, but he just got tired in the end. You never quite know first time out. We did give him the racecourse gallop, as I didn't want to come here and wish I'd done it, but he has had a good blow."

The new racing week started in the worst possible way when a pile-up at Kempton on Monday left Frederik Tylicki with suspected spinal injuries.

The Group One-winning rider, who spent several seasons based in the north with Richard Fahey, was involved in a four-horse pile-up along with newly-crowned champion jockey Jim Crowley, Ted Durcan and Steve Drowne.

Durcan and Drowne walked away from the incident, although the former suffered a broken ankle, but Tylicki and Crowley were taken to St George's Hospital, in Tooting, with suspected spinal injuries.

Crowley was later released, having escaped with just a broken nose.

Lisa Hancock, CEO of the Injured Jockeys Fund, said in a statement on Wednesday evening: "Freddy remains in a stable condition. There will be no further update today from either Freddy's family or the staff at St George's Hospital, although one may follow later this week.

"Freddy's family are very thankful for the support and best wishes that they continue to receive and appreciate the chance for some privacy at this time."

We can only hope for a positive outcome for a genuinely nice person and wish him all the best.