Thistlecrack wins in style; Yanworth earns dominate victory

Thistlecrack overcame an impressive field to win with ease in the Grade One King George VI Steeplechase at Kempton Park.

The Colin Tizzard-trained horse won under Tom Scudamore and despite the 11-10 favourite being tipped to battle it out with stablemate Cue Card, the eventual winner proved too strong for the 5-4 shot.

Twenty to one outsider Silviniaco Conti finished third in a race that highlighted Thistlecrack’s quality, with jockey Scudamore full of praise for his mount.

“Between us me, my father and my grandfather have rode more than 3,000 winners. This might be the greatest horse of all of those,” Scudamore said.

Meanwhile, Yanworth claimed the 32Red.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton with an assured performance.

The 5-4 favourite - who emerged victorious in last month’s the Coral Hurdle at Ascot – sat in third behind leader The New One and second-placed My Tent Or Yours, and despite lacking fluency in jumping, remained in contention going into the home straight.

Barry Geraghty, and the Alan King-trained Yanworth took to the front coming to the last, pulling clear to win by three and a quarter lengths.

The New One claimed second, with Ch'tibello coming through to finish third.

Winning jockey Geraghty insisted that Yanworth would flourish at Cheltenham.

"He battled well. I had to work a little bit before the turn in, but when we straightened up he came alive," Geraghty said.

"He was good and accurate at the last. He's learning a lot from last year and physically, he's a good bit stronger.

"It was a good, solid race. The New One and My Tent went a good gallop and there was no place to hide.

"It looks like he's a Champion Hurdle horse. You'd imagine Cheltenham being a stiffer track would suit better.

"He did it well today."

Image:Getty/Alan Crowhurst

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