Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Thistlecrack must improve his jumping to win the blue riband event at the Festival
Thistlecrack made a couple of possibly costly errors in the Cotswold Chase when beaten by the ill-fated Many Clouds, and he will need a fluent round of jumping at the Festival in March
COLIN TIZZARD admits Thistlecrack will need to brush up on his jumping is he is to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Thistlecrack lost his unbeaten record over fences to the ill-fated Many Clouds in the Cotswold Chase on his last start, but worries over his jumping have been present throughout his short chasing career.
A tendency to jump over-exuberantly and throwing in a rogue stride will have to eradicated if he is win the blue riband.
But with all the major trials now out of the way, Tizzard's novice, who has already won the King George, is still the general 7-4 favourite.
"Thistlecrack's fine, he had a hard old race at Cheltenham," he told Racing UK.
"I didn't like to say much on the day because of what happened to poor old Many Clouds and we were beaten by a better horse on the day.
"He wasn't as flamboyant as he can be, they're not machines, but we've all visibly seen him jump more fluidly than that.
"Hopefully he'll be right back to that at Cheltenham."
