COLIN Tizzard’s Thistlecrack heads up 48 entries for the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Thistlecrack has leapt to the head of the ante-post betting thanks to victories in the Long Distance and Long Walk Hurdles.

Also listed for the showcase event is Camping Ground, who burst on to the scene with an 11-length victory in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

His trainer, Blandford-based Robert Walford, firstly intends to run the French import in the galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on January 30.

“Camping Ground has been very good since his win on New Year’s Day and is in great form,” said the Dorset handler.

“All being well, he will now go for the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham at the end of the month and then head on to the Festival.

“Leighton Aspell rang me after he won the Relkeel and said we should also enter him in the Champion Hurdle — he knows pretty well what he is on about so we did.

“If it came up heavy, he could maybe go for the Champion Hurdle but in my mind he is really a stayer.

“Camping Ground hasn’t actually won over three miles yet but was going away on heavy ground when he won the Relkeel, so I don’t see the step up in trip being a problem.”

Last year’s winner Cole Harden features among the entrants. Jonjo O’Neill has given the 2014 winner More Of That an entry, although both of his starts this season have been in novice chases.

Annie Power is one of six possibles from Willie Mullins’ stable, though she has an alternative target in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle.

  • Meanwhile, Tizzard recorded a double at Wincanton on Thursday with both Quite By Chance (8-1) and Golden Chieftain (14-1) landing victories.