Wholestone will take on Thistlecrack and Unowhatimeanharry in the Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on Friday.
The six-year-old, who is trained by the bang-in-form Nigel Twiston-Davies, was runner-up to classy mare Colin’s Sister on his last start at Wetherby and is set to add further strength in depth to the race.
Anthony Bromley, racing manager for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: “Wholestone is well and the plan is to run at Newbury on Friday.
“The owners were at Nigel’s last Friday and Wholestone was looking good on the gallops.
“He was put up 10lb for running second at Wetherby, so we had to call off the idea of going for what was the fixed-brush hurdle at Haydock last Saturday.”
Colin Tizzard’s star chaser Thistlecrack, who claimed this prize in 2015, is well treated by the conditions of the Grade Two contest on his first start over hurdles since the spring of last year.
The Harry Fry-trained Unowhatimeanharry returns to defend his crown after making a successful start to his campaign at Aintree earlier this month.
Wholestone could also renew rivalry with Colin’s Sister at Newbury.
