Connections have revealed that Thistlecrack is in line to make his long-awaited return in the Marsh Hurdle at Ascot next month.
The Colin Tizzard-trained 12-year-old has not been seen since finishing second on his sole start of last season in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.
It had been initially thought that the John and Heather Snook-owned gelding would make his seasonal reappearance in this year's edition, but connections believe the race will come too soon for him and he is instead more likely to return in next month's Grade 1 feature at Ascot, which is more commonly referred to as the Long Walk Hurdle.
Assistant trainer Joe Tizzard said: “He is back in and loving life, but he is not quite ready to go yet. He is still so popular and is a real favourite in our yard.
“I think the Newbury race at the end of the month he finished second in last year is likely to come too soon as he was a bit later in.
“He might go to the Long Walk or something like that, but we just have to take it day by day with him.”
Thistlecrack is seemingly in the twilight of his career and he has not prevailed in a race since claiming the most recent of his five Grade 1 successes in the 2016 King George VI Chase at Kempton.
However, assistant trainer Tizzard still feels the gelding has plenty to offer despite his advancing years.
“He is doing everything right and is doing a lot of core fitness work on the gallops. He seems in lovely form at the moment,” Tizzard added.
“It's only 12 months since he ran a blinder behind Paisley Park at Newbury, so the fire is still there.”
