No Gold Cup run for Thistlecrack

Cheltenham Gold Cup hopeful Thistlecrack will miss the rest of the season due to a fractured leg, Colin Tizzard’s has confirmed.

The 10-year-old returned 10 racing following 10 months out injured in November as he finished fifth in a Hurdle at Newbury and backed it up with a fourth place finish in the King George on Boxing Day.

Having won the 2016 World Hurdle, Tizzard made no secret of his Gold Cup ambitions but the horse has now been ruled out for the season due to his latest setback.

The news was revealed on Monday, with assistant trainer Kim Tizzard telling At the Races that it has come to a big blow to everyone at the yard.

“We were going for the Gold Cup – we’re gutted,” she said. “He was a little bit stiff behind after the King George and he’s been off and had X-rays and bone scans – it’s gutting.

“He ran a screamer. He jumped really well and we were getting excited that the old Thistlecrack was still there. Hopefully he’ll have his box rest and come back next season.

“We’re gutted for the team, the owners, everyone. We’ve still got a horse, at the end of the day.”