Already heading the betting in ante-post markets for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, Colin Tizzard’s star hurdler Thistlecrack made his eagerly anticipated chase debut at Chepstow on Tuesday.

Lining up against four rivals in the only Novices’ Chase on the card, the son of Kayf Tara jumped off in front under regular pilot Tom Scudamore.

Racing with his typical exuberance, the eight-year-old was measured at his fences throughout. Standing off the fourth last, Thistlecrack was then steadied coming to the final two flights, although seeming to travel effortlessly within himself.

The Tim Vaughan-trained Aqalim – who was beaten a total of 70 lengths by the favourite in two Grade 1 hurdles last year – rallied under pressure to get within a length of his rival coming to the last.

Yet after winging the final flight, Thistlecrack came clear with a motionless Scudamore in the saddle to collect his first prize over fences by a comfortable four lengths.

“He did everything that we asked of him all the way through,” said Scudamore.

“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.”

One of the best three mile hurdlers to have graced the sport, the gelding has made the smoothest of transitions to the larger obstacles something which is not always cut and dried. Few can forget how the imperious Big Bucks – the winner of four consecutive World Hurdle’s – switched to back to hurdles after not enjoying the best success chasing.

Since the word go at home chasing has always been his game

The Milborne Port team’s good run continues just a few days on from Third Intention’s biggest day in the sun in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree’s opening meeting.

Tizzard stated that the next step for Thistlecrack is likely to be Cheltenham in two and a half weeks time, feeling that a flat out pace around Cheltenham is the test he very much needs en route to a possible Gold Cup challenge at the Festival.

He said: “When he got in tight once he was really good, as if he’d been jumping for years,” he continued. “It was a beautiful performance. This is just a start, a real good school round.

“Yesterday morning I was wondering if we’d got him fit enough but as soon as we put the saddle on he looked 100 per cent fit.”