Thistlecrack has stepped up his preparations for the 2017 Cheltenham Festival by securing a victory on his chase debut at Chepstow.
The eight-year-old, who had not been in competitive race action since his triumph in the Liverpool Stayers' Hurdle at Aintree in April, showed little signs of rustiness as he led from the front to claim glory in Tuesday's Aspen Waite Complete Business Growth Service Novices' Chase.
The Colin-Tizzard trained Bay Gelding was saddled to glory by regular jockey Tom Scudamore, who believes the horse is a natural chase runner.
Scudamore told At The Races: “He was fantastic wasn't he? He did everything that we asked of him all the way through.
“He was neat and nimble, since the word go at home chasing has always been his game but it's on the course that matters. I've ridden plenty who have been naturals at home and you wouldn't believe they'd ever seen an obstacle and vice versa.”
Tizzard was also pleased with Thistlecrack's performance, and he is now targeting another novices? chase for the horse, before he turns his attention to Cheltenham.
The British trainer revealed: “This is just a start, a real good school round. The plan was for two novice chases and then Cheltenham. I think we need another novice and then after that I think he can do what he wanted to be fair.”
