Thistlecrack

Thistlecrack
Sire	Kayf Tara
Grandsire	Sadler's Wells
Dam	Ardstown
Damsire	Ardross
Sex	Gelding
Foaled	29 March 2008
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Bay
Breeder	R. F. and S. D. Knipe
Owner	John and Heather Snook
Trainer	Colin Tizzard
Record	19: 13-2-1
Earnings	£644,653
Major wins
Sefton Novices' Hurdle (2015) Long Distance Hurdle (2015) Long Walk Hurdle (2015) Cleeve Hurdle (2016) World Hurdle (2016) Liverpool Hurdle (2016) Worcester Novices' Chase (2016) King George VI Chase (2016)
Awards
British National Hunt Horse of the Year (2016)

Thistlecrack (foaled 29 March 2008) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt races. Unraced until he was five years old, he recorded his first win in a National Hunt Flat race in 2014. In the 2014/15 National Hunt season he won two minor hurdle races before improving when tried over long distances and winning the Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle. In the following season he established himself as the best staying hurdler in Britain with wins in the Long Distance Hurdle, Long Walk Hurdle, Cleeve Hurdle, World Hurdle and Liverpool Hurdle. When switched to steeplechasing in the following season he made an immediate impact, taking the Worcester Novices' Chase before beating more experienced horses in the King George VI Chase.

Thistlecrack is a bay gelding with a small white star bred in England by R F And S D Knipe. He was sired by Kayf Tara, an outstanding stayer who won two Ascot Gold Cups and two Irish St Legers and was a three time Cartier Champion Stayer. His other offspring have included Planet of Sound (Punchestown Gold Cup), Blaklion (RSA Chase), Special Tiara (Celebration Chase), Tea For Two (Feltham Novices' Chase) and Carruthers (Hennessy Gold Cup). Thistlecrack's dam Ardstown was a successful racemare who won three times on the amateur Point-to-point circuit and four times under National Hunt rules.

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