Thistlecrack has been ruled out of this year's Cheltenham festival after his trainer confirmed today that the horse suffered a tendon injury.

One of the big favourites for this year's Timico Gold Cup, Thistlecrack will now miss the majority, if not all of the jump season, as he recovers from his injury.

Tom Scudamore celebrates winning the Ryanair World Hurdle on Thistlecrack
Image: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

His trainer, Colin Tizzard, confirmed the news to the Racing Post:

Colin 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."

— Racing Post (@RacingPost) February 21, 2017

This year's Cheltenham Festival runs from the 14th-17th March.