Colin Tizzard has confirmed that former Gold Cup favourite Thistlecrack will have another scan on his tendon problem, which has set in motion the rumour mill that he could yet make it to Cheltenham.

The King George winner was ruled out of the blue riband event last week when Tizzard revealed he had a slight tear in a tendon – but that may not be the end of the story.

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

“We just want to check again, just to please ourselves really. It is not like he is walking around with his leg in a bandage.”

“We just want to check again, just to please ourselves really. It is not like he is walking around with his leg in a bandage.”

On the back of the news, small amounts were being traded on the Betfair Exchange with punters able to get around 10/1 – although no mainstream sports book was yet to list him again.