YOU have to feel for Colin Tizzard and Tom Scudamore and the Thistlecrack team, just as you have to feel for Willie Mullins and the Faugheen/Annie Power team, and for Gordon Elliott and the Don Cossack team. More than the others, however, the Thistlecrack news came from left field. Most of us can only imagine what it feels like to have the Gold Cup favourite carpet whipped from under your feet.

At least Tizzard still has Native River and Cue Card, and Cue Card looked as good as ever when he won the Ascot Chase last Saturday. They say that if he wasn’t an 11-year-old, Cue Card would be favourite for the Gold Cup. That may well be the case, but he is an 11-year-old.