Trainer Colin Tizzard has confirmed Thistlecrack will miss the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival due to a “slight tendon tear”.
Thistlecrack had been rated as the favourite ahead of next month’s showpiece event at Prestbury Park, but Tizzard says the King George VI Chase winner will miss out due to injury.
Tizzard said: “Thistlecrack is out. He had heat in his leg last night. The vet scanned him this morning and it’s a slight tendon tear.
“We’ve seen it at every yard and it happens every year.”
Tizzard does still have Native River and Cue Card, who finished as the runner-up behind Thistlecrack at Kempton on Boxing Day, involved in the Gold Cup.
Native River is the new Gold Cup favourite ahead of Cue Card and Djakadam.
