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THISTLE IS BACK ON THE TRACK

THISTLECRACK, ruled out of last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup after injuring a tendon just weeks before the race, will have a gallop at Wincanton today.

Colin Tizzard, the trainer of the gelding who was last seen on the track when narrowly beaten by the ill-fated Many Clouds at Cheltenham in January, will also gallop Cue Card and Fox Norton before racing gets underway.

“The plan is to run him over hurdles at Newbury next month before the King George VI on Boxing Day,” said Tizzard.

Brilliant

Thistlecrack, winner of last year’s King George, retains all his ability according to his trainer.

“He was brilliant last year, brilliant the year before over hurdles and there’s absolutely no reason why he shouldn’t be just as brilliant this year,” he said.

Like Thistlecrack, Cue Card and Fox Norton could also run in the King George.

More immediately, Tizzard is hoping to win today’s Badger Ales Chase for the second year running. He runs Theatre Guide and ® Tempestatefloresco. “The ground is against Tempestatefloresco,” said Tizzard’s son Joe.

“Theatre Guide could be a better horse than what you usually get in the Badger – he’s been placed in two Hennessy Gold Cups. He’s on a decent mark.”

Tough

But the Tizzards face tough opposition from Paul Nicholls, successful seven-times in the race.

He runs Southfield Theatre, travelling like the winner last year before falling at the last fence, and Present Man, unseated last year, who has been laid-out for today’s race.

“I wanted to get a prep into him, so in order to preserve his rating we gave him sharpener over hurdles,” said Nicholls.

Present Man would be a fitting winner as he is owned by Mark Woodhouse, the former chairman of Wincanton, whose brewing family, Hall & Woodhouse, have sponsored the race for 56 years.

To mark Wincanton’s 150th anniversary, the sponsors have brewed a special ‘Celebration’ ale for the occasion.