Monday 21 March 2016 16:22, UK
Supporters of Thistlecrack could get the opportunity to see him in action twice more this season.
Trainer Colin Tizzard has raised the possibility of running his brilliant Ryanair World Hurdle hero at both the Aintree Grand National meeting and the Punchestown Festival next month.
Having already claimed the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, the Long Walk at Ascot and the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham, the eight-year-old was a hot favourite to extend his winning run on his return to Prestbury Park last Thursday and did so in stunning fashion in the hands of Tom Scudamore.
Thistlecrack impressed at Aintree last spring before chasing home Killultagh Vic at Punchestown and Tizzard will consider doing the double header once more as long as his charge remains in rude health for the next six weeks.
"As long as the ground is OK and the horse is in good form, I don't see any reason not to take him to Aintree," said the Dorset-based trainer.
"I know he's had four runs already (this season), but his races have been nicely spaced out and he seems to have come out of Cheltenham very well.
"He came back home well, he hasn't turned a hair and doesn't look like he had a particularly hard race, although when you get into that top league the races are bound to take something out of you.
"We're very happy with him and as long as the ground is on the soft side of good, he'll go to Aintree and we'll see where we are after that.
"He could go to Punchestown as well. There's three weeks between the two, which is perfect, so we'll see."
The Liverpool Stayers' Hurdle is run on Grand National day, April 9, while the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown is staged on Thursday, April 28.
