CHELTENHAM Gold Cup favourite Thistlecrack will miss the rest of the campaign after suffering a tendon injury.

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 the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Despite a narrow defeat at the hands of the ill-fated Many Clouds in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham last month, Thistlecrack stayed top of the betting for the March 17 race.

Tizzard said: “He had a bit of heat in his leg last night and was a bit sore. We had the leg scanned this morning and he has a slight tear on his tendon.”

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.