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Willoughby Court and Yanworth are poised to give racing fans a treat when they clash in a five-runner race for the Ladbrokes Novices' Chase at Newbury on Friday.

Both were top-class over hurdles but now the pair have to prove themselves equally adept over the bigger obstacles.

Willoughby Court, winner of the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, made a pleasing debut over fences at Huntingdon three weeks ago.

Trainer Ben Pauling reports the six-year-old to have benefited for the experience and is looking forward to seeing how he fares against better company in this Grade Two over two and a half miles, registered as the Berkshire Novices' Chase.

"(I'm) looking forward to seeing him out again. Obviously, it's going to be a right old ding-dong of a race," said Pauling.

"Yanworth is an exceptionally good horse. Willoughby won last time out and his jumping has been much improved at home.

"I hope it continues to be so and if it does, then it will be a lovely spectacle for the racing public. I've got him in as good a shape as I can have him at home and we'll see how he gets on.

"It's a decent race. Win, lose or draw, it's all still education."

Yanworth ended his hurdling career on a high in the Liverpool Hurdle in April and made a winning debut over fences at Exeter in October.

However, he blotted his copybook on his return to that track when falling in a race won by Briery Queen.

Trainer Alan King is confident the seven-year-old can redeem himself.

"It's not as if Yanworth jumped clumsily - he just landed a bit steeply and it was a typical novice's fall," the Barbury Castle trainer told www.alankingracing.co.uk.

"He schooled last week over nine fences and it was clear that the fall hadn't worried him one iota, but it will be good to get some more match practice into him."

Frank Berry, racing manager for owner JP McManus, felt it was just one of those things at Exeter last time.

"It was just bad luck when he fell the last day. Alan is very happy with him and we're hoping for a clear round," said Berry.

"He's in good form and with a bit of luck he can a get a clear round and see we'll see how we go. It's a good race and a good track."

Trainer Paul Nicholls, successful with Clan Des Obeaux last year, saddles Adrien Du Pont, a winner at Fontwell on his chasing bow in October.

Charlie Longsdon's Western Miller is the most experienced of the five runners, having had four starts, while point-to-point scorer Battle Anthem completes the field.