Thistlecrack still has plenty to learn about the jumping game

Thistlecrack was trimmed for the Cheltenham Gold Cup by Ladbrokes and BetBright after a heart-in-mouth round of jumping in the 3m½f novice chase at Cheltenham and Betway were probably closer to the mark in easing Colin Tizzard's superstar to a standout 4-1.

The bare fact of it is if the Gold Cup were today he would not be winning with jumping errors like yesterday, and at this stage the King George would be a mistake as he still has plenty to learn when it comes to measuring his fences.

He never looked like falling and he always looked like winning, but at the sharp end of a Gold Cup he will not get away with coming down on some fences and bunny-hopping others. He has time, but has to improve and the Coneygree route of Feltham then Denman Chase would be kinder.