News broke this morning that Gold Cup favourite Thistlecrack will miss the Cheltenham Festival with a tendon injury, and it was the latest blow to the sport ahead of the spring. The Colin Tizzard trained chaser is the latest, in a long line of names to pick up an injury this season, and it is a major blow to the game that he will miss the biggest four days on turf.
We highlight some of the equine superstars that will miss the Cheltenham Festival next month;
Thistlecrack
Perhaps the biggest name in the sport at the moment. The Colin Tizzard trained chaser won the Stayers' Hurdle in stunning style last season and took to fences really well this term. He won the King George as a novice at Christmas before going down to Many Clouds in a thrilling Cotswold Chase finish but he will miss the rest of the season with a tendon injury.
Fingers crossed he will be back for Kempton in December
Annie Power
The defending Champion Hurdler was ruled out of the defence of her title recently with Willie Mullins unable to get her on track at all this winter. Speculation surrounding her health had been rife all season, and it was no surprise that she was ruled out with a leg injury last month with all ante-post bets on her down the toilet. Her racing future remains up in the air and hopefully we can see her on the track again next season.
Faugheen
Not only did we lose the defending Champion Hurdler this season, we also lost the 2015 Champion with Faugheen also ruled out of a return to Prestbury Park. Not seen since winning the Irish Champion Hurdle in January 2016, it had been hoped that the 9YO would make a return in 2017 but it wasn't to be.
Despite initial reports that the signs were positive, Faugheen was ruled out with Annie Power in a major blow for the most powerful trainer and owner in the sport. Let's hope he can return to his best in the near future
Don Cossack
Don Cossack was the brilliant winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2016 but he won't be back to defend his title after he was retired recently. The Gigginstown Stud owned chaser picked up a leg injury in April of 2016 and having failed to recover sufficiently, it was decided to give the horse a well earned retirement. It is a shame to see the Gold cup hero retired but he owed connections nothing and fingers crossed he can enjoy a long and happy career post-racing.
Coneygree
This year's Cheltenham Festival will also be without Coneygree for the 2nd year on the spin with the Mark Bradstock trained horse notoriously difficult to keep sound. He famously won the Gold Cup as a novice back in 2015 but he has seldom been seen since and it was no surprise to hear that he will miss Prestbury Park with a bone niggle. Connections hope he will make Punchestown in April but that remains up in the air at this stage.
Sprinter Sacre
Few moments in recent racing history can match the moment Sprinter Sacre regained the Queen Mother champion Chase last season but unfortunately we won't be seeing him go for a hat-trick in 2017. The legendary Chaser was returned back in November after Nicky Henderson reported the horse to have picked up an issue at home. Few horses will be missed as much as Sprinter Sacre with his potential clash with Douvan never materialising to the disappointment of racing fans.
