You know what I want? Thistle and Harry set for a cracker

What more could you wish for as you open your advent calendar on December 1? Jumps fans were left licking their lips as the biggest clash of the season so far was set up on Thursday morning.

King George VI Chase winner Thistlecrack was among six declarations for the Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, which has long been his intended comeback target.

He has been sidelined by a tendon injury since he was beaten by Many Clouds at Cheltenham last January and is having a prep run for Kempton on Boxing Day.

The Colin Tizzard-trained nine-year-old was a top-class hurdler two seasons ago when he made a successful reappearance in this event before going on to land the World Hurdle (now Stayers' Hurdle) at Cheltenham.

He has been reported 'fit enough to run a huge race' on Friday but he will need to be straight to cope with top-class stayer Unowhatimeanharry, who won this race 12 months and went on to finish third in the Stayers' Hurdle before landing the Punchestown equivalent.

Harry Fry's nine-year-old concedes 6lb but proved his fitness by winning at Aintree last month.

Dual Grade 1 hurdles winner Yanworth is among five declarations for the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Novices' Chase, along with last season's Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle winner Willoughby Court.

The pair have both win over fences this season, although Yanworth fell at Exeter last time out.

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