Thistlecrack took a successful first step towards the Cheltenham Gold Cup after winning a novices’ chase.
Despite never jumping a steeplechase fence in public, the champion long distance hurdler is already favourite for the sport’s top prize.
Trained by Colin Tizzard and ridden by jockey Tom Scudamore, the eight-year-old put in a near-foot perfect round of jumping at Chepstow.
He beat Aqalim by four lengths over the 18 obstacles.
