Relief was etched across Mark Bradstock’s face after Coneygree showed he is as good as ever by making an impressive reappearance at Sandown.

The eight-year-old was having his first outing on Sunday for Bradstock’s Letcombe Bassett stables, near Wantage, since March when he became the first novice for 41 years to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Facing just two rivals in the 188Bet Future Stars Chase over three miles, the 1-4 favourite made all the running and jumped superbly under Nico de Boinville to saunter home by 25 lengths from Seventh Sky with last year’s RSA Chase runner-up, Southfield Theatre, a further 19 lengths back in third.

After nervously watching his star take his unbeaten record over fences to five, Bradstock said: “It’s just what the doctor ordered and now it’s onwards and upwards. That was really, really good.

“I was a little tense to say the least. You want to get the first run out of the way and carry on where we left off. He is still so deceptive with the pace he goes.”

Now it’s all systems go for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday, November 28 when Coneygree will have to give lumps of weight away to his rivals.

Bradstock added: “He will love the track and the others will have to go a bit. I don’t think he has had a particularly hard race, but he will improve again.”

That could be followed by a crack at the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, but connections will have to stump up a £10,000 supplementary fee after missing the original entry date.

Drop Out Joe capped a memorable week for Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon by digging deep to land the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton on Saturday.

The 11-1 shot stayed on well under Aidan Coleman to collar long-time leader Royal Palladium after the last fence in the Listed handicap chase over three miles and a furlong for a game half-length victory.

Meanwhile, the master of Hull Farm Stables has been asked to train two horses for the Queen.

Charlie Longsdon has already welcomed three-year-old filly Sports Day, and will receive another horse in the spring.

“It’s a huge honour," he said. "Words can’t describe how I feel.”