Emotions run high as Coneygree puts in bold display on return to Cheltenham

Sara Bradstock was bursting with pride in Coneygree after his valiant third at Cheltenham on Saturday, comparing her emotions after the performance as being on a par with the 11-year-old's famous Gold Cup triumph in 2015.

Carrying top weight in the Grade 3 BetVictor.com Handicap Chase won by Rock The Kasbah, Coneygree wilted only in the closing stages having bowled along at the front in his trademark fashion, and a tilt at next month’s 32Red King George VI Chase is under strong consideration.

“I really think it was as emotional as winning the Gold Cup,” said Bradstock, assistant trainer to her husband Mark.

“We were down and out with him. I’m nearly in tears. To have him back is wonderful and what a race he ran. He got tired, as he was entitled to as he wasn’t pushed hard to be here, and he’s still stayed on at the end. He’s incredible; bring on some soft ground.”

Mark and Sara Bradstock: considering tilt at King GeorgeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Coneygree was cheered by the Cheltenham crowd as he returned to the winner’s enclosure having helped set a course record time of 6min 49.1sec, significantly under the previous record of 7min 1sec.

His performance marked a return to form after he was pulled up twice in a truncated campaign last term, which was cut short when he was injured in the run-up to the King George, having also suffered a nasty overreach in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby before that.

Kempton, for which he is a general 33-1 shot, could be his next stop and Bradstock said: “He’s back and it was just wonderful. He did what he does best and the ground was quick enough for him. He’s better on softer ground as he can go fast in it and others can’t.

“He could possibly go for the King George but we’ll see how he is. The last couple of years we’ve not got through December without going lame. He’s 11 but got no miles on the clock.

"He showed again he’s a real competitor; he wants to win and he wants to beat them. The engine’s still there."

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