King George Vi Chase

(Grade 1)

JUMP racing has not been short of stars in recent years and now it unquestionably has another one.

Thistlecrack, still a novice but seemingly even better over fences than he was over hurdles, ran out a most impressive winner of the Grade 1 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

In the end the eight-year-old passed the post just over three lengths ahead of stable-companion Cue Card but he was being eased down on the run-in, having opened up a gap of around eight lengths between the last two fences.

Cue Card, always prominent, could not go the pace when the winner and Tom Scudamore kicked on four from home but kept on gamely to hold the rallying Silviniaco Conti, who led on the first circuit, by a short-head for second with Tea For Two right behind and Josses Hill a disappointing last of five.

Trainer Colin Tizzard has enjoyed a fantastic season and his main concern now, bearing in mind Native River’s outstanding effort in the Welsh National, will be choosing the right races for his talented team.

Thistlecrack will surely be allowed to take his chance in the Gold Cup, although the 5/4 quoted by bookmakers should ensure that no one steps in for several weeks.

Thistlecrack was sent off the 11/10 favourite on Monday, with Cue Card 5/4. Heavy investments were inadvisable (though the winner held a clear on-course advantage over his travelling companion in that regard), the bookmakers having made things as tight as possible - an approach they repeated over two days with Yanworth, Special Tiara, Native River and Aso, to name but four.

Be that as it may, the King George was a wonderful spectacle with Thistlecrack drawing gasps of admiration from the packed stands with some superlative leaps on Kempton’s most important day of the year.

FANTASTIC

As for Tizzard and son Joe, there is no telling where the rest of the season will take them.

“In the end it was lovely,” Colin Tizzard said. “A fantastic performance by both horses. Good boys. You’ve all seen what Thistlecrack is capable of. It was just a matter of his jumping. It was brilliant when he was long and brilliant when he was in tight.”

Tizzard believes strongly in certain jockeys for certain horses. This was the 11th time Scudamore had ridden Thistlecrack and he remains full of admiration for an extraordinary athlete.

“I’ve never had a better experience in a race and nothing comes close,” he said with a smile. “You know you can ask him and he’s going to keep on delivering, and at pace. He has everything and you know you’re on something very special.”

Thistlecrack has been around Cheltenham over hurdles and fences but perhaps one final outing there, in the Cotswold Chase on trials day, would be the ideal preparation for the big one.

The other point to make is that, although still a novice (and the first to win the King George), he is rising nine and this is the right time to go for the pot of gold. People will draw attention to his tendency to jump ‘big’ but trying to restrain him would be a mistake. He was never going to come to grief this week and it is hard to name another top-class hurdler who has taken to a different discipline so effortlessly.

Silviniaco Conti kept on again close home like a horse needing Aintree but Paul Nicholls may prefer Punchestown, which would delight the executive there. Cue Card could possibly be switched to the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, a race he won in 2013.

Tea For Two should be back for another crack at the King George next year, jockey Lizzie Kelly remarking that she had never been taken along so fast in a race. It was that sort of day.