Tom Scudamore: “Thistlecrack’s going to have to be at his best”

Although Cyrname likes to front run, it’s not a given he will here, as Aso is another who likes to get on with it. Everyone thinks Kempton is a speed track – which it is – but you also need to stay every yard.

When I started riding, Mick Fitzgerald used to say how he loved Kempton as a place to ride Nicky Henderson’s Cheltenham horses, as you need speed, but you also need to stay. At the time I didn’t understand what he meant, but the more I rode the track, the more I saw what he meant.

Yes, you do get two-milers winning the King George, but not often, and true greats like Desert Orchid and Kauto Star may have been better around here than Cheltenham, but they still had the stamina to win the Gold Cup.

There’s no hiding place in the King George, as Graham Bradley put it, the first circuit they go quick, the second circuit they go quicker, and turning into the home straight, you have to stay every yard to the line, and that’s when we’ll find out if Cyrname stays three miles or not.

If I wasn’t riding my fellow, I’d want to be on Lostintranslation. For all the reasons, I’ve mentioned, we know he stays three miles as he proved it at Haydock, and he has the pace to mix it with Defi Du Seuil last season, who’s won the Tingle Creek over two miles. Whatever happens, it’s a great race to be involved in, and I can’t wait!

Kempton 15:40 – Honest Vic

My final ride is Honest Vic for Henry Daly. I’ve not ridden him before, but he’s in good form, winning at Market Rasen two runs ago, and was a good fourth at Haydock last time, and Henry’s horses are running well, so he’s another nice spare to have picked up on this big day.

Tom