THE legacy of the late Lord Oaksey is sure to live long in the sport, his riding feats impressive in the Corinthian tradition, but paling next to his achievement with the pen, and his tireless work for the Injured Jockeys Fund probably being his greatest achievement. There are other legacies, too, notably the continued success of his broodmare Plaid Maid, who has produced one Hennessy Gold Cup winner in Carruthers, and Coneygree now looks set to eclipse the deeds of his celebrated half-brother.

A son of Karinga Bay, Coneygree is more robust that his siblings, with Plaid Maid’s other progeny big of heart but rather smaller of stature. That led Bradstock, the noble lord’s son-in-law, to declare him the best he’d trained when the gelding landed a brace of Grade 2 wins over hurdles at Cheltenham in the 2012/13 season. Missing the following term was seen as a blow to his small yard, but it’s more than possible that an extended break has enabled him to fill his frame, and he showed when making all on his chase debut at Newbury on Friday that he’s a genuinely top-class prospect granted easy ground.

His successful reappearance will have helped take the edge of an unfortunate incident at Plumpton, which was meant to be the starting point for his chasing career. That notion was blown out of the water when the veterinary surgeon deemed him lame at the start, a decision which proved controversial, and one which was greeted by consternation by Sarah Bradstock, who felt that an injustice was done.

A late withdrawal meant having to pitch the apple of their eye into pattern company without the benefit of a run, but any fears about such a baptism of fire proved unfounded, and he jumped his rivals into submission in the style of one born to the job. The RSA would be a logical target in the spring, but it came as no great shock that the race which he was nominated for after this performance was the 2015 Hennessy, in which he would be seeking a rare family double.