Christmas cracker: Scudamore banking on Thistlecrack in King George test

Tom Scudamore believes Thistlecrack can improve past the rivals who beat him in the Betfair Chase when the pair team up again in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The rider thinks the ten-year-old is back in the same kind of form that elevated him to Cheltenham Gold Cup favouritism before injury struck in 2017.

Scudamore, who partnered Thistlecrack to King George victory in 2016, took great confidence from a seasonal reappearance at Haydock where the pair finished five and three-quarter lengths behind winner Bristol De Mai.

Speaking on Tuesday, Scudamore said: "I haven't actually seen him since Haydock but I'll go and have a sit on him before the King George – from what Colin [Tizzard, trainer] has told me everyone down there is very happy with him.

"On the face of it we've got to improve to get past Bristol De Mai and Native River but you'd like to think there's no reason why we can't. I know what Thistlecrack can do and he's showing the signs that he did a few years ago."

Watch Thistlecrack win the 2016 King George

The market clearly agrees with Scudamore, with money coming for the ten-year-old leading to him to shorten from a general 12-1 shot, in the aftermath of the Betfair Chase into a now best-price of 7-1 for the Kempton show-stopper on December 26.

Such market confidence may be born of the fact that turning into the home straight at Haydock John and Heather Snook's five-time Grade 1 winner appeared to be travelling as well as any of his five rivals in spite of what Scudamore admits to have been a slightly cautious jumping display.

Betfair Chase principals Bristol De Mai, Might Bite and Thistlecrack are due to do battle again at KemptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

"His jumping wasn't as fluent as some of the others but I think there were reasons for that," the jockey said. "It was his first chase since last year's King George and it was only the sixth chase of his life. He just doesn't have the experience over fences that a lot of the horses he's running against have the benefit of – he was the least experienced chaser in the field.

"A lot has been said about the fences at Haydock that day and they certainly did take some jumping. Yet I was very pleased with him as a whole, certainly in the way he finished his race and to me it was his best performance since he won the King George in 2016."

Tom Scudamore has partnered Thistlecrack on 15 of his 22 career startsCredit: Edward Whitaker

That will be music to the ears of fans of the popular chaser who has only been seen on a racecourse on four occasions since winning the Grade 1 as a novice two seasons ago.

Yet Scudamore is certainly not getting overconfident in the build-up to a race that could feature five other Grade 1 winners including Bristol De Mai and Native River, last year's winner Might Bite – the general 11-4 favourite – as well as Waiting Patiently and Politologue.

Asked about potential rivals, Scudamore added: "You could make the case for many of them and a lot will depend on the ground.

"Obviously the softer it gets you'd have to respect Native River and Bristol De Mai but if it remains closer to good that would be positive for Might Bite. You also have to throw Politologue in the mix after his form was franked by Charbel.

"It just looks a really competitive race and I'd hate to name just one horse to watch – you have to have respect for anything that turns up in the King George."

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