Connections of Coneygree are leaning towards running him in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday rather than in the RSA Chase tomorrow.
Mark Bradstock, who trains at Letcombe Bassett, near Wantage, admitted it was ground conditions, rather than the opposition, that would be the main factor in influencing the final decision as to which race to run his classy novice chaser.
That is likely to be made before 10am today, when declarations close for the RSA, while the deadline for the Gold Cup is tomorrow morning.
Bradstock said: “I spoke to Simon Claisse (Cheltenham clerk of the course) this morning and he said we are due seven millimetres of rain before Friday, so we are definitely edging towards the Gold Cup, but I will be walking the course very early in the morning.
“We schooled him over ten fences this morning. He jumped absolutely super. Pretty much the ground is definitely the main issue.
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“The Gold Cup is very open and I think there are a good ten (horses) that have got as much of a chance as anything.
“He’s pretty tough and he will take no prisoners.”
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