Coneygree was the toast of Oxfordshire last night after landing a fairytale success in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The strapping bay gelding, trained by Mark Bradstock at Letcombe Bassett, near Wantage, made all the running under jockey Nico de Boinville to capture jump racing’s blue riband in thrilling fashion.

Jumping boldly at the head of affairs, the 7-1 chance powered up the hill to pass the post a length and a half clear of the fast-finishing Djakadam (10-1) with Road To Riches (8-1) two lengths back in third.

It earned Coneygree’s connections the first prize of £313,225, and fully justified their decision to go for the Gold Cup rather than the RSA Chase on Wednesday – making him the first novice since Captain Christy in 1974 to win the prestigious event.

Bradstock, 57, who trains just 12 horses at the Old Manor Stables, was overjoyed by his young star’s stunning success.

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He said: “Luckily the decision to go for the Gold Cup was vindicated.

“I’m not very good at watching.

“It’s a sort of numb feeling that you don’t really think it’s happened. I’m sure it will sink in tonight.”

Bradstock’s wife, Sara, plays a massive part in the training of Coneygree, and she was equally delighted.

“It’s so unbelievable,” she said.

“In the last month I’ve been on the yard from 6am to 10pm, and it’s all for this.

“It means anyone can do it. It doesn’t need hundreds of thousands.

“He doesn’t know he’s a novice, does he?

“I’ve been saying when we win the Gold Cup in the same sentence as I say when we win the Lottery, and I don’t even do the Lottery.

“So that’s how amazing it is.

It doesn’t happen to people like us.”

Coneygree was bred by Sara’s father, Lord Oaksey, who died in 2012, after they had purchased the mare Plaid Maid to provide him with an interest in later life.

She has also produced Carruthers – winner of the 2011 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

And Sara added: “The little mare cost £3,000 and look what she’s done. Fairytales do happen.

“It’s because my father was the greatest.

“That’s where we’ve got this luck from; he deserved it and he’s looking down.”