KEMPTON PARK 15:15

All 5 ran. Fences: 18.

Time: 5m 53.8s Closing Sectional: (2.5f): 40.5s (91%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 112%, Betfair SP 99.1%

Nevermind that this wasn't a vintage King George, in the sense that it didn't require a Kauto Star-esque level of performance to win it, nor did it produce the sort of epic that Cue Card, the ill-fated Vautour and the absent Don Cossack had served up in 2015, it was a race, or rather a performance, that will live long in the memory, for the exuberant jumping and devastating move for home after 4 out that the novice Thistlecrack produced, style that promises so much more to come when the circumstances and the quality of opposition allow; there are doubts as to just what the quartet behind him achieved, Cue Card clearly not at his best, perhaps the effort of trying to go with the winner meaning he scrambled home for second, while the time overall didn't compare well with that for the Kauto Star.

THISTLECRACK running in this in preference to the Kauto Star, produced an outstanding performance for a novice chaser on just his fourth start over fences, a performance superior even to that achieved by Coneygree in winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup on his own fourth start (though against a much deeper field), the exuberant jumping, particularly at the ditches, and the devasting move for home after 4 out (much more impressive live than it appears on close-up TV shots) both stamping his class on a race a little lacking in depth, particularly with Cue Card not at his best; pressed leader early, generally in second, jumped boldly in the main, tanked along, went on ninth, quickened superbly after 4 out, totally in command straight, impressive; will surely face deeper opposition in the Gold Cup, but still has much more to offer and clearly the one to beat on this showing.

CUE CARD wasn't in the same form as last time, those his optimum conditions just about, this ground firm enough, though the effort of trying to put pressure on the winner in the back straight was another factor, almost costing him second; waited with, went prominent after halfway, pressed leader twelfth, mistake next, every chance 4 out, no response straight and all out to hold on for second; his performance last time suggests he's still to be feared at this level and hopefully he'll have possibly one or 2 more goes at it, in the Gold Cup and the Aintree Bowl.

SILVINIACO CONTI (FR) had largely looked a light of other days of late and this seemingly top-class effort shouldn't be taken as a sign of sustained revival, guts clawing him into a place after he'd looked well held on the turn; led until ninth, lost place thirteenth, rallied 2 out, took third close home.

TEA FOR TWO seemed to excel himself, going for a long way as if comfortable in such exalted company, the return to 3m in his favour, though this isn't the soundest piece of form at this level; held up, took keen hold, headway eleventh, not quicken 4 out, third straight, no extra near finish.

JOSSES HILL (IRE) had more patient tactics reemployed over the 3f longer trip, but it was as much the rise in class that did for him, running close to his best, still no surprise to see him dropped back in trip next time; soon steadied, took keen hold, shaken up before 4 out, no extra run-in.