Thistlecrack hardens as Gold Cup favourite

The smile on the face of trainer Colin Tizzard painted a picture of both relief and joy as Thistlecrack set out on the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup trail with an effortless victory in the Aspen Waite Complete Business Growth Service Novices' Chase at Chepstow.

In one of the most eagerly anticipated seasonal returns in many a year, the eight-year-old did not disappoint, putting in a near foot-perfect display to make a successful start to his chasing career in Monmouthshire, just as esteemed stablemate Cue Card did five years ago.

While sterner tests lie in store for the four-times Grade One-winning hurdler, he could hardly have been more impressive in casting his authority over his rivals in the manner of a horse destined to make it to the top rung of the chasing ladder.

Sent straight into the lead by Tom Scudamore, the 1-6 favourite barely touched a twig throughout the near three-mile journey.

He met the fifth-last slightly wrong, but put himself right and responded at the very next fence, an open ditch, with an exhibition leap before passing the post four lengths clear of the gallant runner-up Aqalim.

Scudamore could not hide his delight, saying: " Every horse is different, they are all individuals but he's a mighty one. He can do things other horses can't even dream of, he's phenomenal and it's tremendous to be associated with him."

Thistlecrack is a best-priced 5-1 favourite for the Gold Cup next March and a return to Cheltenham next month is now on the agenda.

Tizzard said: "The horse was not nervous at all and he thoroughly enjoyed his job. You could not have wished for a horse to jump better.

"He is a beautiful horse and this is what we do it for, to end up with horses like this. My heart is pumping just talking about it.

"In two and a half weeks time, no doubt we'll go to Cheltenham. He hasn't had a hard race and he needs the practice.

"If we're going to the Gold Cup we need to know he can jump round Cheltenham, there's no need to go small any more. A novice chase there with half a dozen runners would be perfect.

"The plan was to do two novice chases then go to the Feltham at Kempton but we don't know. He is probably good enough to run in any race. He has got the potential to do anything."

Elegant Escape (10-1) paid back a small slice of the 150,000 euros laid out for him when completing a quickfire for double for Tizzard in the second division of the Frank Sutton Supporting Velindre "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle.

The Alan King-trained Laser Light (9-4) maintained his unbeaten record under Rules with a five-length success in the opening division.

King's assistant Dan Horsford said: "Daryl (Jacob) said he will learn a lot from it. He was green going to the last and he had a look about.

"He had a good trip all through the race and Daryl thinks there is a lot of improvement. That trip looked fine for now but he is a fine, big horse and in time he will be a three-mile chaser."

There was a sense of personal satisfaction for trainer Jimmy Frost following the three-length victory of Thegreendalerocket.

The 8-1 shot provided jockey Harry Cobden with a winning spare ride in the Tom Pritchard Contracting Chase.

Frost said: "He has always been a good traveller. He has been a nice horse to deal with and is just getting better.

"We had to buy him as he is an ancestor to old Topsham Bay. I don't know if he will go on and win a Whitbread, but he certainly stays."

Richard Johnson enjoyed a 116-1 treble, completed with a facile 14-length success aboard the Tim Vaughan-trained Looksnowtlikebrian (5-4) in the opening division of the Truck And Bus Wales And West Handicap Hurdle.

The champion jockey had earlier enjoyed success on Chris Down's Craiganee (8-1) in the Clive Barford Ltd Supporting Velindre "Confined" Handicap Hurdle and the Bernard Llewellyn-trained Honour Promise (7-1) in the Silv Serv Recycling Ltd Supporting Velindre Selling Hurdle.