Colm Greaves examines three things we’ll learn on day four at Cheltenham...

Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Thistlecrack will miss the remainder of the campaign after suffering a tendon injury.

There are just three and a half weeks to go to the Cheltenham Festival and all the horses are in full work, writes Ruby Walsh. 

Two of our racing gurus debate whether or not Sizing John is on for glory at this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

For a number of years now the Irish Gold Cup has become increasingly irrelevant as a Cheltenham trial and this renewal is more notable for those that are missing, rather than those who are running, writes Pat Keane.

Thistlecrack, trained by Colin Tizzard and ridden by Tom Scudamore, has won the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton.

I’ve ridden in a lot of King Georges but I don’t remember riding in one with such a small field.

Road To Riches is “50-50” to take his up his engagement in the 32Red King George VI Chase, according to trainer Noel Meade.

The National Hunt season is hitting full stride now, and thus this is a good weekend for us to begin to unwrap some of our best young horses of last season.

Owner Rich Ricci says his “heart went out to Willie Mullins” when the trainer rang him to tell him three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Vautour had died in freak accident on Sunday.

Still waiting for the season to get into full swing, but I’m a little bit busier on the track this weekend than in recent ones, with five rides at Wexford tomorrow.

All attempts to temper enthusiasm and curb expectation were lost in just two words: “just spectacular.”

We really ought to have known better. History has shown that underestimating Carlingford Lough and John Kiely is a foolish move but some lessons are harder absorbed than others.

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Don Cossack’s racing career could be in jeopardy after he suffered a tendon injury which rules him out of the Punchestown Festival.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

The Crabbie’s Grand National meeting could start with a bang as the imperious Douvan is among 18 entries in the Merseryrail Manifesto Novices’ Chase next Thursday.

Good days and bad days at Cheltenham. 

Cue Card will carry the hopes of Britain in today’s Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup as the 10-year-old seeks to crown a stunning season by landing a £1m (€1.3m) bonus.

The absence of Vautour takes some of the intrigue from the Gold Cup, but it remains a very competitive race, in which Don Cossack can regain his place as the highest rated chaser in these islands by landing the week’s feature for Gordon Elliott, Bryan Cooper and Gigginstown House Stud.

Oliver Sherwood “couldn’t be happier” with Many Clouds ahead of his run in the totepoolliveinfo.com Premier Chase at Kelso today.

In the past 24 hours the main social media streams have been alive with rumours Vautour will head to the Ryanair Chase rather than the Gold Cup. With little expectation of immediate confirmation from the stable, it remains pure speculation, but is there a credible source?