Thistle Ask earns shot at Grade One glory after Kempton stroll

Thistle Ask has earned himself a crack at the BetMGM Clarence House Chase after continuing his phenomenal rise through the ranks with an emphatic victory in the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase.

An enterprising all-the-way winner of the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter earlier in the season, it was a case of rinse and repeat at Kempton as Harry Skelton bounced out the 15-8 chance before asserting his dominance for a cosy 10-length success.

It was a fifth-straight victory for the rapidly-improving eight-year-old and fourth since joining Dan Skelton, who is now keen to head into deep waters at Ascot on January 17.

“It’s remarkable and I just don’t know where the improvement is coming from really,” said Skelton.

“He’s just loving life and seems to be getting better. Obviously today was all the things he loves, good ground, right-handed – there were a lot of ticks in his boxes, but it still takes a fine performance to defy a mark that is 31lb higher than he started the season with.

“You just have to say well done to the horse and he’ll go to the Clarence House now and we’ll get a good idea of where he stands in the division.”

Thistle Ask’s triumph was leg two of a double at the Sunbury track for the yard having also won the opening “Get Your Ladbrokes Free Kempton Bet” “Introductory” Juvenile Hurdle with exciting prospect Maestro Conti.

The 8-13 favourite after winning for Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm in France, the youngster was a taking nine-and-a-half-length winner.

However, before a tilt at the Festival is considered he will first take in a dress rehearsal in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham on January 24.

“I was very happy with him and he moved through the race very lightly, he was light on his feet and jumped very nicely,” added Skelton.

“There is everything to like and I loved how he saw it out and he was strong through the line. I would say he has a bright future.

“He will go to the Triumph trial on Trials day and then we’ll see where we go, but it feels like his best days might be in the future.”