Thistlecrack proves the dominant force
(14) H Spiller 9-5 .................... L Keniry P Hide 9-5 ..................................... G Baker (35) J Fanshawe 9-5 .......................... D Muscutt (14) S Kirk 9-5 .................................... M Godwin (5) (21) H Morrison 9-5 ...................... A Kirby (36) R Fahey 9-5 ...................................... T Hamilton (21) S Hodgson 9-5 ......................... Rob Hornby (3) (138) J Best 9-5 ................................. K Fox M Johnston 9-0 .................................. A Mullen (28) D Elsworth 9-0 ................... T J Murphy BETTING: 15-8 Re Run, 5 Tisbutadream, 6 Captain Pugwash, 7 Spinwheel, 8 Enfolding, 10 Private Mission, 12 Greyjoy, 14 Dragons Voice, 25 Others. (133) B Millman 5 10-0 (D) ..................... R Tate I Williams 4 9-13 (C) .......................... A Kirby (14) S Durack 4 9-13 (CD2) .......................... G Baker P Webber 9 9-11 ..................................... W Carson (126) Mrs A Perrett 10 9-10 (CD3) ............ R Havlin (16) S Dow 4 9-6 (C2) ..................... H Crouch (3) (32) R Beckett 3 9-1 ............ R Kingscote (22)MUsher38-4 .......................... KO’Neill BETTING: 2 Alfredo, 5-2 Charismatic Man, 6 El Campeon, 7 Midtech Star, 8 Saborido, 16 Cotton Club, Tindaro, 20 Marshall Aid. (10) S Dow 4 9-6 ............................ H Crouch (3) P Henderson 8 9-6 ................... M Dwyer (18) W G M Turner 3 9-5 .............. W Carson (21) Mrs H Main 3 9-5 ....................................... J Mitchell (13) Kristin Stubbs 3 9-0 ........ T Hamilton (35) A King 3 9-0 ..................... D Sweeney (58)DElsworth39-0 ......................... SWKelly (144) J Long 3 9-0 .............................. R Havlin (28) R Guest 3 9-0 ............... Aaron Jones (3) M Botti 3 9-0 .......................................... D Muscutt THISTLECRACK produced an incredible performance to run out a brilliant winner of the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton.
The dominant force in the staying hurdle division last season and unbeaten in just three previous starts over fences, the Colin Tizzard-trained eight-year-old was sent off the 11-10 favourite to see off four rivals which included his stable companion and last year’s winner Cue Card (5-4).
Dual King George hero Silviniaco Conti took the quintet along in the early stages, before Thistlecrack pulled his way to the front in the hands of Tom Scudamore.
Paddy Brennan was alive to the move aboard Cue Card and moved into second to set up the battle many had hoped for.
However, Thistlecrack found another gear rounding the home turn, leaving his stablemate and the rest of the field trailing in his wake.
The bold-jumping market leader safely negotiated the remaining obstacles and a jubilant Scudamore punched the air as his mount passed the post three and a quarter lengths to the good.
It was a close thing for second, with Cue Card just holding the late rally of Silviniaco Conti.
Scudamore said: “For the first time in my life I’m pretty speechless. It’s wonderful - I thought he’d win, but I never imagined he’d do it as easy as that.
“He’s a phenomenal racehorse, he’s a pleasure to ride and a great credit to everyone. To win a King George on his fourth run over fences, it just shows the hard work everyone back at the yard has done and I’m so thrilled to be part of it.”
He added: “Between myself, my father (Peter) and grandfather (Michael) we’ve had about 33,000 winners and he’s the best one of the lot.”
Yanworth emerged as a genuine Champion Hurdle candidate as he ran out an authoritative winner of the 32Red.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.
After making a successful reappearance over an intermediate distance in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot last month, connections considered a step up to three miles but he instead reverted to two miles for this Grade One event and was the 5-4 favourite in the hands of Barry Geraghty.
As he had done when winning the International Hurdle at Cheltenham a couple of weeks ago, The New One set out to make all the running, with his old foe My Tent Or Yours in his slipstream.
Geraghty was happy to sit in behind aboard the Alan Kingtrained Yanworth and while his jumping was not always slick, he remained bang in contention rounding the home turn.
The further Yanworth went the better he looked and after hitting the front on the run to the final flight, he pulled clear on the run-in to score by three and a quarter lengths.
The New One was a clear second, with Ch’tibello coming through to beat My Tent Or Yours to third.
King said: “I’m relieved. I thought today was a bit against us. Kempton is a sharp track and we didn’t get the rain I was hoping for in the week. I’m delighted. I thought we were vulnerable today.
“Ascot probably stood him in good stead. He had to battle that day and it helped him.
“My horses were a bit short then and he needed it. He needed a bit of match practice. It was all very well winning last season without coming off the bridle, but horses have to learn. He learnt a lot at Ascot and again today.”
He went on: “Barry was right behind the first two so he was in the right place. He’s dug in and the further they went the better.
“We weren’t sure (about best trip) which is why we stuck him in over two and a half at Ascot. We were going to go up but Unowhatimeanharry came on the scene, so we changed our plan. It’s worked very well. But for Unowhatimeanharry we were in the Long Walk two weeks ago. It’s a big step in the right direction.”