CONEYGREE (35-pace adjusted 38) set such a strong pace in the Feltham Novices’ Chase that he had all his rivals in trouble a long way from the finish.

He himself started to tire from three out and came home from there 5.2 seconds slower than they managed in the King George. He needed to be given a sharp crack between the last two to keep going and slowed to a walk on the run-in but was still 40 lengths clear at the line.

As we’ve seen with Un De Sceaux, horses that set a fierce pace over jumps invariably need breaks between their runs. So it was good to hear that Coneygree’s next race won’t be until the Reynoldstown in February.

Given his gung-ho running style, it hardly seems likely that Coneygree will become the first Feltham winner to win the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival (the 19 previous Feltham winners to attempt the double all lost.)

His best chance of another top level success would look to be in the Mildmay Novices Chase at Aintree. If he skips the Cheltenham Festival to be kept fresh for that I’d give him a real shot.