No Cheltenham Gold Cup show for Thistlecrack as injury ends season

The dominant force in the staying hurdle division last season, the Colin Tizzard-trained nine-year-old won his first four starts over fences, including a scintillating victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Despite suffering a narrow defeat at the hands of the ill-fated Many Clouds in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham at the end of January, he remained at the head of the betting for the blue riband on March 17, but he will not line up at Prestbury Park next month.

Trainer Colin Tizzard said: “Thistlecrack is out for the season, unfortunately. He had a bit of heat in his leg (Monday night) and was a bit sore.

“We had the leg scanned (Tuesday morning) and he has a slight tear on his tendon. We’ve seen it at every yard and it happens every year.”

Owner John Snook added: “It’s very disappointing, but it’s one of those things that happens with horses. We’ve got to stop and that’s that.

“They just found a little bit of heat in his leg and it might be that he feels better in a week or two, but you’d be risking everything if you carried on. We all get our fair share of bad luck.

“We’ve seen it happen to Willie Mullins with the likes of Annie Power and Faugheen, and of course Oliver Sherwood after what happened to Many Clouds. Hopefully we still have a horse. We’ve got to stop and we’ll find out where we are in about eight months’ time.”

Despite the shock news, Tizzard still has a formidable hand for the Festival showpiece.

Paddy Power make Thistlecrack’s Hennessy Gold Cup, Welsh Grand National and Denman Chase-winning stable companion Native River the new 5-2 favourite, just ahead of fellow Venn Farm inmate Cue Card at 3-1.