CONEYGREE was reported to have “worked brilliantly” as he warmed up for his clash with Sizing John in the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup with a racecourse gallop at Ffos Las.

Having been off the track with a leg injury since chasing home Cue Card at Haydock in November, the 2015 Gold Cup hero from Mark Bradstock’s Letcombe Bassett stables stepped up his preparations for his battle with this year’s winner of the blue riband on April 26.

Partnered by regular rider Nico de Boinville, the ten-year-old jumped a full circuit of fences – drawing a gasp from the crowd with an extravagant leap at the open ditch in the home straight – before gradually pulling away from stablemate and half-brother Flintham, who was ridden by the trainer’s daughter, Lily.

Bradstock’s wife and assistant, Sara, said: “He worked brilliantly. He went a full circuit and jumped lovely and quickened away with Nico.

“It was all very good and now we will rev him up and hopefully have him right for Punchestown.

“Nico could not be more pleased with him and said he feels as good as ever.

“If Sizing John gets the trip going our pace he will probably out-sprint us, but hopefully we will make it hard for him by going a good gallop.”

Meanwhile, Peal Of Bells provided Sparsholt trainer Harry Whttington with a welcome winner when following up her Taunton triumph in December with a game victory at Huntingdon.

The six-year-old mare came out on top by a neck in a duel with Next Lot over the final two flights in a three-mile-one-furlong handicap hurdle under Harry Bannister.

On the Flat, West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon sent out Masterson to make it two wins in the space of six days at Chelmsford City.

Silvestre De Sousa was in the saddle again as the four-year-old grey led all the way to beat The Lampo Genie by an eased-down length and a half in a handicap over a mile and six furlongs.

Whatcombe trainer Paul Cole notched his first winner of the year when Arctic Sea carried his colours to a 16-1 victory in a mile handicap at Kempton, with Luke Morris on board.