Mouse Morris expects Thistlecrack to be a tough nut for Alpha Des Obeaux to crack in the Ryanair World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The six-year-old was in the process of giving Thistlecrack a run for his money when falling at Aintree last spring and claimed a deserved big-race win in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in January.

Morris said: "He's in good fettle. We'll find out if he's good enough now. The favourite will be very hard to beat, but we'll take him on and see what happens. He's going to the start with a chance. He might not come back with one, but we'll see."

Alpha Des Obeaux is one of two runners for Gigginstown House Stud, with Lieutenant Colonel representing Sandra Hughes.

Colin Tizzard is in bullish mood ahead of Thistlecrack's bid to crown a tremendous campaign today.

The imposing eight-year-old has been the undoubted star of the division this season, landing the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and the Long Walk at Ascot before completing his hat-trick in tremendous fashion in Cheltenham's Cleeve Hurdle in January.

"When he was a young horse we could not work Thistlecrack very well as he would always be a bit stiff behind. But now he is at his peak - he has been absolutely brilliant for the last five runs and he could easily have won at Punchestown last season when he got stopped and made up eight lengths from the last," said Dorset-based trainer Tizzard.

"At the moment, when he races, there doesn't appear to be a bottom to him. He just powers away at the end.

"He looks better than anything else over three miles. I keep on thinking someone is going to bring back a very good chaser who will be really rampant on the day but they would need to be. Thistlecrack has worked beautifully and he looks like a chaser. He may be chasing next season."