Thistlecrack beats Cue Card in King George VI Chase victory
THISTLECRACK came home an 11/10 winner, beating stablemate Cue Card to the finish line in the prestigious King George VI Chase.
Thistlecrack was ridden to victory by Tom Scudamore
Cue Card, also out of Colin Tizzard's Devon stable, won the 2015 edition with Paddy Brennan on board but the Irishman was unable to coax his ride to a second consecutive victory in the Boxing Day race at Kempton.
It was only Thistlecrack's fourth start over fences and his first outside of the novice ranks, a step-up jockey Tom Scudamore always believed he was capable of.
Cue Card trains in the same stable as Thistlecrack but could not keep up
And his jumping stood up to the challenge as he took on Cue Card fence-for-fence.
The winner in 2013 and 2014 Silviniaco Conti led in the early stages but the two favourites hit the front as they began the second circuit, leading out the five-horse field.
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Tea For Two and Lizzy Kelly attempted to get involved but the strength of Tizzard's two star geldings became too much for the others.
Brennan realised he was in trouble heading towards the home straight but Thistlecrack entered it with clear distance, and took the final fences with aplomb to win a presitigious victory - the race's honour roll boasts such names as Kauto Star, Long Run and Kicking King.
"I never imagined it would be as easy as that," Scudamore said.
The nine-year-old has quickly been installed as a 5/4-favourite for March's Cheltenham Gold Cup.