All you need to know as Thistlecrack returns on a superb TV Newbury card

It's early in the jumps season for such a head-to-head but jumps fans should be in for a rare treat today when Thistlecrack, last year's King George winner and outstanding staying hurdler, meets Unowhatimeanharry, one of his heirs apparent.

It will be the undoubted highlight of day one of the Ladbrokes Winter Festival at Newbury when the two face off in the Long Distance Hurdle, one of four races shown on ITV4, as Thistlecrack returns from the injury that forced him to miss the Gold Cup and Unowhatimeanharry bids to embellish a record of just one defeat in 11 starts for Harry Fry.

A busy afternoon features more jumps action from Doncaster and Limerick, while Southwell stages the afternoon's Flat racing before the focus shifts to Chelmsford and Dundalk in the evening.

Going report

Doncaster first race 12.00
Chase - Good to soft (from good, good to soft in places); Hurdle - Good to soft, good in places (from good). Rail movements: R1, 3, 6 & 7 +13y

Southwell 12.10
Standard

Newbury 12.20
Chase course - Good to soft, soft in places; Hurdle course - Soft, good to soft in places (GoingStick: Chase 5.8 and Hurdle 5.1 at 7.45am on Friday). Rail movements: R1 +104y, R2 +63y, R3 +122y, R4 & 5 +78y, R6 & 7 +181y

Limerick 12.45
Soft, soft to heavy in places

Dundalk 5.30
Standard

Chelmsford 5.45
Standard

Market movers

12.50 Newbury: Dusky Legend 5-1 (from 11-2)

1.00 Doncaster: Barton Knoll 11-2 (from 5)

1.20 Newbury: Boreham Bill 3-1 (from 10-3)

5.30 Dundalk: California Yoohoo 11-2 (from 17-2)

7.15 Chelmsford: Alba Del Sole 13-8 (from 15-8)

What to back

Tom Segal has identified two value bets at Newbury in a not-to-be-missed Pricewise column, and in a double helping of top tipping Paul Kealy has made his own picks.

Ed Quigley provides the Ten Second Tip.

What to read

Lee Mottershead sets the scene for the two-day Ladbrokes Winter Festival, which will be shown on ITV4, and is also the author of Francois Doumen's warm tribute to the Marquesa De Moratalla, the owner of great jumpers, such as The Fellow, who has died.

What to watch

The Long Distance Hurdle promises to be a clash to savour and Maddy Playle and Mark Scully run through the race on the Postcast.

The best of Racing Post Sport

Action from the Sky Bet championship provides the main football highlight as Leeds meet Aston Villa. Dan Childs has picked out the value bets from the fixture.

Final thought

Defeat for either Thistlecrack or Unowhatimeanharry in today's skirmish should be no reason to be downcast about their longer term prospects. The bigger targets lie ahead.

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