Coneygree has ‘nothing to fear’

Coneygree is impressing connections ahead of his highly anticipated return to racing this season.

Mark Bradstock’s charge became the first novice to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 41 years when he brilliantly landed the race from the front in 2015.

Coneygree would, however, race just once last season, winning in facile fashion at Sandown in December before injury put paid to his campaign.

He is now back in training and, according to Sara Bradstock, wife and assistant trainer to Mark, the nine-year-old is showing plenty of positive signs. “He is in very good form. He did his first piece of proper fast work on Saturday and he feels amazing really,” said Bradstock.

“I actually think he’s probably in better form than he was this time last year. The injury he had was one of those niggly things that got progressively worse and, in hindsight, I think it’s something he probably picked up when he won the Gold Cup.”

Bradstock revealed tentative plans are to allow Coneygree to target the £1m Jockey Club Triple Crown Bonus. He will require soft ground wherever he ends up, with the weather a key determining factor, and Bradstock said Haydock’s Betfair Chase in November is a likely starting point.

Regaining the Gold Cup in March is the ultimate goal and Bradstock says she does not fear the opposition. The good ground that prevailed as Don Cossack won last season would likely have undone Coneygree, says his regular work rider, but Gordon Elliott’s charge is now on the sidelines with injury.

World Hurdle winner Thistlecrack is another potential foe but Bradstock says Colin Tizzard’s inmate must first prove himself over fences.

“It’s going to be interesting, that’s for sure,” she says of the season ahead. “I think Don Cossack might have beaten us in the Gold Cup last season, purely because the ground was so quick.

He’s obviously out of action at the moment and I just hope they don’t have the ground like that again (at Cheltenham). “I love the idea they’ve got Thistlecrack as favourite when he hasn’t even jumped a fence.

“He’s rated 174 over hurdles, we’re 172 over fences, but I would like to think Thistlecrack would need to improve for jumping a fence to be beating us.

“Maybe I’m being optimistic and he’ll end up being the next Arkle, but I don’t think we’ve got anything to be frightened of and I can’t wait to start.”

Coneygree is 15.00 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup while Don Cossack is 7.00 and Thistlecrack is 8.00.