Unstoppable Thistlecrack
THISTLECRACK scorched to King George glory at Kempton yesterday.
Turning big races into victory strolls has fast become a habit for the gelding and that trend continued with a three-length victory that was his greatest display yet.
Afterwards, trainer Colin Tizzard paid tribute to his 11-10 favourite. He said: “We’ve all seen Thistlecrack for the last few years – he’s had his biggest test and he’s a
brilliant horse. He’s not a five or six-year-old, he is eight and he’ll be nine in a few days’ time. He’s at the peak of his powers and he’s just proved we all got it right.”
Thistlecrack produced some incredible leaps for Tom Scudamore as he tracked Silviniaco Conti (20-1) during the early exchanges.
The six-year-old was travelling so strongly that Scudamore sent him to the front at the ninth fence only to be quickly challenged by Paddy Brennan on stablemate Cue Card (5-4).
However, Thistlecrack had plenty more in the locker and powered clear up the straight to beat his rival in tremendous style, with Silviniaco Conti third.
Tizzard said: “As soon as I made the entry we knew which way we were going to go, although we sort of pretended we didn’t.
“It’s quite frightening to watch, isn’t it? When Cue Card went up beside Thistlecrack six or eight out, I thought ‘goodness me’. It’s a very fickle world we live in.
“When he was long he was standing off and Tom was being a bit careful at the second-last and he shortened up almost like a show-jumper. He never touched a twig. He’s got everything you’d want in a racehorse.”
Although Scudamore has tasted victories at the top level before it was clear where this success sat among them.
He said: “It was a tremendous thrill and a great honour. I was delighted with him and it’s a wonderful effort to win a King George in your fourth race over fences. It just shows you are dealing with a very special horse.
“Without a doubt that is my best win as it is one of the Classics of jump racing.
“Between myself, my father Peter and grandfather Michael we’ve had about 3000 winners and he’s the best of the lot.”
Thistlecrack looks set to dominate the chasing scene for some time and he is now evens favourite with William Hill for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Team Tizzard enjoyed a late Christmas present earlier on the card when Royal Vacation (33-1) was gifted the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.
Might Bite looked set to record an emphatic success when cruising clear in the straight only to dramatically part company with Daryl Jacob at the last.
That allowed the toiling Royal Vacation to lead home Virgilio (10-1) by eight lengths under Paddy Brennan with Amore Alato (8-1) a distant third.
Meanwhile, Yanworth (5-4 Fav) did his Champion chances no harm with a convincing win in the Christmas Hurdle.
Ladbrokes quickly cut Yanworth to 4-1 from 8s for the Champion Hurdle in March.
And Min (4-5 Fav) looked a two-miler going places when hacking up in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
Ladbrokes slashed Min to 5-2 from 5-1 for the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham in March.