Coneygree: Big run expected in Newbury feature
Mark Bradstock is confident sbobet mobile Coneygree can get his career back on track in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.
The 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero will have to concede weight all round as he bids to provide his trainer with a second victory in the race following the victory of his half-brother Carruthers in 2011.
Coneygree has suffered more than his fair share of problems since his career-defining success two and a half years ago.He was most recently pulled up after suffering an over-reach in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, but connections believe he is back on song.
Bradstock said: "We think he is in very good form. We thought he was in fantastic form going to Wetherby, but it didn't happen.
"There is no point crying over spilt milk. It's frustrating, but worse things have happened. He's still here and it's all systems go.
"It is a hell of a weight to carry (11st 12lb), but where else do you go?
"He goes a hell of a lick and if he gets his jumping going it will be great."
Paul Nicholls landed successive renewals as a jockey aboard Broadheath (1986) and Playschool (1987) before scoring as a trainer with Strong Flow (2003) and twice with the great Denman (2007 and 2009).
This year's chief hope for the Ditcheat handler is Present Man, who has won his last two starts under leading conditional Bryony Frost, who keeps the ride.
Nicholls, who also saddles Braqueur D'Or, said: "Present Man has astonished us, to be honest.
"Two years ago Andy Stewart and Paul Barber owned him and they sold him to the Woodhouses saying he would be lucky to a small race around Wincanton.
"It is a like a lot of horses - he has just got older and stronger. I don't know sbobet mobile where the improvement has come from, but his run the other day gives him every chance.
"The question at Wincanton was if he would get the trip in the ground, so stamina was an issue - but obviously it wasn't.
"He is still improving and who knows where he will end up. That was a career best at Wincanton and we'll see if there is more to come."
Nigel Twiston-Davies is enjoying a fantastic run of big-race Saturday success, having claimed the Charlie Hall and the Betfair Chase with Bristol De Mai and the BetVictor Gold Cup with Splash Of Ginge.
The Naunton handler is double-handed with Cogry, a winner at Cheltenham in October, and Double Ross, who was third in this race 12 months ago.
Twiston-Davies said: "Cogry did absolutely nothing wrong at Cheltenham. I think he's got a good chance. The bookmakers don't think much of it.
"He was second in the sbobet mobile Scottish National and did very well at Cheltenham last time, so why not? He is as tough as nails and I'd be very surprised if he wasn't fighting it out at the end.
"Double Ross was third last year and unfortunately unseated my son (Sam Twiston-Davies) at Sandown three weeks ago and then went on to win the race without a jockey.
"We probably made too much use of him at Newbury last year and will ride him with more restraint this time round."
Singlefarmpayment was runner-up behind Cogry at Cheltenham on his latest appearance and trainer Tom George expects him to improve for the run.
"He's great. He had a good comeback run at Cheltenham and it will have brought him on a lot," said George.
"We had to get a run into him as he's a very excitable horse. We had to get the fizz out of him.
"We've kept him ticking along since then and he's ready.
"It's obviously a competitive race, but we've got him as good as we can get him. Let's just hope he turns up at his best on the day."