COLIN Tizzard feels Thistlecrack has the ability to win over any trip as the King George hero aims to break the hoodoo of favourites in the BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham today.

The last winning favourite in the Grade Two contest, which is seen as a key Gold Cup trial, was Cyfor Malta way back in 1999.

Djakadam was a faller when odds-on last year, with the likes of Punchestowns, Grands Crus and Our Vic all among the beaten favourites recently.

It would be a bigger shock than all of those put together were Thistlecrack to meet with defeat, though, given the last time he was beaten was at the Punchestown Festival in 2015.

He is unbeaten in nine subsequent starts, the last four of which came over fences, including his memorable success last time out at Kempton on Boxing Day.

"He's absolutely fine. Thursday was the first time I'd been able to school him because the ground has been frozen for the past week and a half," said Tizzard.

"Tom Scudamore schooled him over three hurdles and six fences, just to keep us all happy really, and he was brilliant.

"We didn't need to do it but it's quite good fun, schooling them, as long as nothing goes wrong!

"What are we all expecting? We've seen last season and this what he can do to horses mid-race. He puts on a spurt which takes them all out of their comfort zone.

"My job is to make sure we do what we've got to do with him and then when he's right, we run him.

"He's lovely at home, brilliant. We just need ordinary luck and he'll take all the beating - there's no doubt about that.

"He's a strong stayer who could probably win over any distance."

The lucky man on board for the past three season, Scudamore looks forward to his appearances as much as everybody else.

"It's very exciting to get back on him. He's a wonderful horse to be associated with and obviously he has carried all before him and there's not a lot more we need to say," he told Racing UK.

"You have to keep focused and keep your eye on the ball. He seems in very good order, I had a sit on him and a jump in the week. I was very pleased with him, so it's all systems go.

"It's a competitive race, you've a dual King George winner, Grade One winners, but the level Thistlecrack is at, of course you're going to be taking on the best horses.

"Hopefully it will be another good experience for him and we can continue our winning run."