bet365 Long Distance Hurdle
Grade 2, Newbury 14:25 £45,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 52y, Class 1
Saturday 28th November 2015

1 Thistlecrack 7/2
2 Deputy Dan 16/1
3 Cole Harden 2/1
5 ran Distances: 6l, ½l, ½l
TIME 6m 18.25s

Thistlecrack advertises Cheltenham World Hurdle claims with Newbury victory

Thistlecrack
© Racehorse Photos

Trained by the red-hot Colin Tizzard, the seven-year-old gamely landed the three-mile Grade Two in which the alleged big-hitters failed to fire.

Whisper and reigning World Hurdle hero Cole Harden were the prominent duo in the market, but the former disappointed as the 6-4 favourite, while the latter stayed on late in the day after having made most of the running.

Deputy Dan fleetingly looked the winner once he took the lead three out, but Thistlecrack and Tom Scudamore outmuscled that rival at the next flight and kept up an honest gallop to win by six lengths.

Tizzard said: "To be honest, I told everyone he would need the run, but that he might be classy enough to win.

"He jumped and never missed a beat and travelled strongly, and I'm sure he'll improve massively for that.

"We don't have to decide (about going over fences) yet, but we thought we'd give him a couple of runs over hurdles to see if he is good enough to challenge for the World Hurdle.

"On that run, he is good enough and will go to Ascot now (Long Walk Hurdle)."

Warren Greatrex said of the third-placed Cole Harden: "It's all about March (Cheltenham Festival) so it's good to get the first one out of the way.

"He won't go to Ascot, he'll either go for the Relkeel or the Cleeve at Cheltenham."

Bet365 Long Distance Hurdle
£45,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 52y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Soft, Heavy in places

Pos	D	Horse SP	Jockey Weight	Trainer	Age
1st		Thistlecrack 7/2	T Scudamore 11-4	C L Tizzard	7
2nd	6	Deputy Dan (IRE) 16/1	L P Aspell 11-0	O Sherwood	7
3rd	½	Cole Harden (IRE) 2/1	G Sheehan 11-8	W Greatrex	6
4th	½	Aqalim 9/1	Aidan Coleman 11-0	J P Ferguson	5
5th	24	Whisper (FR) 6/4f	Nico de Boinville 11-8	N J Henderson	7