Team Tizzard believe Thistlecrack is in top form ahead of his defence in the King George VI Chase at Kempton this afternoon at 3.05pm.
The nine-year-old cleared the field by over three lengths last season, before losing his unbeaten status over fences narrowly at Cheltenham.
On return over hurdles he was a very disappointing fifth at Newbury, but the yard are confident he can provide the yard with a third straight win in the race.
“We schooled Thistlecrack this morning and he looked in great nick,” Joe Tizzard told his Coral blog.
“He has definitely sharpened up and tightened up for his Newbury run, however he has still got to go and do it in the King George.
“It certainly looks a hotter race than last year. We are hoping he’ll go and produce a big performance on the track.”
The yard also run Fox Norton who attempts this longer trip for the first time in his career.
An impressive winner over half-a-mile shorter, he has been running well over a shorter trip including finishing second in the Tingle Creek over jump racing’s minimum distance.
No trainer has won this race three times in a row with three different horses, so his victory could be history making.
“We’ve been keen to try Fox Norton over this trip and we’ll find out how good he can be over it on Boxing Day,” the former jockey added.
“He’s the fastest horse in the race, so hopefully he can just sit in third or fourth throughout and use his pace at the end. He is in really good form at home.”
Long-time favourite Might Bite awaits his date with destiny for Nicky Henderson, who believes he has a ‘very big chance’.
The quirky yet outstanding eight-year-old, was set to be an impressive winner here before falling at the last, and has since registered wins at Cheltenham and Aintree. The foremost he almost threw away when veering violently, but battled back to win.
“Nobody really knows how much rain we’ll get but I must admit as little as possible is what I am hoping for where Might Bite is concerned,” Henderson told his Unibet blog.
“I’m not saying he won’t handle it but if it goes very soft it will certainly play into the hands of Bristol De Mai who has a big advantage in that he handles it much better than any of the others.
“You can’t really make any comparisons with Long Run, who won this race twice for us, as they are two completely different people but I believe Might Bite goes here with a very big chance and I still think we are yet to really get to the top of what he can do.
“He’s got to behave but there is no reason why he shouldn’t, and I’m very happy with where we are.”
Whisper is worthy of a big career victory over fences after numerous close efforts. The nine-year-old was narrowly denied in both the RSA and Ladbroke Trophy by the smallest of margins.
“I see that he has been quite well backed which I suppose is a good thing as someone thinks he can win!,” the Lambourn trainer added.
“He really has come back from the wilderness over the past two seasons and it’s hard to imagine him getting beaten at odds on in a beginners’ chase at Exeter almost three years ago.
“We all adore him and he deserves to get his head in front and I have no doubt he’ll put up another bold show.”
Bristol De Mai proved an easy 57 length winner of the Betfair Chase last time out, and the heavy ground specialist is unlikely to get optimum conditions here.
“We aren't doing anything different this season, but he's going over further now and is showing just how good he is," Twiston-Davies told The Times.
"If all goes well at Kempton he should confirm he's a proper Gold Cup horse."
Traffic Fluide, Tea For Two and Tom George’s Double Shuffle also run.
TIP: Might Bite should go here and run a big race as he is just a very good horse and at top form. He will love it around Kempton and the ground will be in his favour over Bristol De Mai. Thistlecrack is a very good each-way price. Whilst elsewhere on the card If The Cap Fits and Kildisart are worth mentioning.
