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Horse racing: Is Thistlecrack back in Gold Cup contention?

Cheltenham Festival fans could finally get some much welcome good news. Cheltenham needed a hero after various high-profile absentees over recent weeks were added to with the news top jockey Barry Geraghty would miss the Festival after a shocking fall at Kempton on Saturday. That hero could be Colin Tizzard.

Tizzard sparked rumours that Thistlecrack, who was ruled out of Cheltenham last Tuesday, could still potentially run up the famous hill this year. Tizzard announced that his King George Chase winner is set to have another scan this week – in his words to “please ourselves”. Thistlecrack was ruled out for the rest of the season last week because of a tendon tear, however there’s strong belief the injury is not as bad as first feared.

Tizzard continued: “We are going to scan him again on Tuesday. There was a little tear there, but there is no heat or swelling there now.”

The announcement had punters rushing to the betting exchange, and saw bets matched as short as 7/1 on Sunday night after being 989/1 earlier in the day. In the last 24 hours, Thistlecrack has accounted for just under 68% of bets placed via Oddschecker. Two exchange markets are offering odds on the odds comparison website, and now the rumours have sparked Boylesports to offer odds on the superstar novice to win the Gold Cup.