CONEYGREE’S weight-carrying capabilities are set to be tested with an enterprising crack at the Kerry National at Listowel on September 13.

The 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, from Mark Bradstock’s Letcombe Bassett stables, was last seen when running a blinder to finish a close third to Sizing John in the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup in April.

Now he is set to return to Ireland to run in a handicap for the first time with connections keen to find out how he will fare under what will almost certainly be top weight ahead of a potential tilt at the Ladbrokes Trophy – formerly the Hennessy Gold Cup – at Newbury on December 2.

Bradstock’s wife and assistant, Sara, explained: “The idea of going to Listowel is we’ll get a run in early and that will give us a couple of months before one of the races in November.

“One thing we don’t know is whether lesser horses carrying ten stone can go the pace he can with top-weight.

“I don’t think they will be able to, but we’ll find that out in the Kerry National and it will help us decide whether we can try to do the same thing at Newbury, instead of going to Haydock for the Betfair Chase.”

She added that Coneygree had thrived since his trip to Punchestown, which was his first appearance since finishing runner-up to Cue Card in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last November.

“He feels absolutely wonderful at the moment,” she said. “I really could not be happier with him.

“He’s really exciting me. We gave him a month off after Punchestown and not only has he come on since then physically, but mentally, too.

“He’s running around like an idiot again now and touching every piece of wood I can find - right now he feels as good as he did before he won the Gold Cup.”

Meanwhile, Wantage trainer Henry Candy landed a 6-1 double at Windsor on Sunday courtesy of Boreagh Lass (Evens favourite) and Angel Down (5-2) with Harry Bentley and Dane O’Neill in the saddle respectively.

Blewbury handler Eve Johnson Houghton, who is due to appear on ITV Racing’s The Opening Show on Saturday ahead of the meeting at Newbury, struck at the Thameside track earlier in the week with Ice Age, ridden by Edward Greatrex.

West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon sent out a winner on three consecutive days for the second successive week with Trumps Up’s 14-1 triumph at Leicester being followed by Whiteley’s victory at Brighton and Santorini Sun’s success at Sandown.

Paul Cole’s Whatcombe stables were also on the mark at Brighton and Leicester with Honiara and Kings Academy respectively, while Kingston Lisle trainer Heather Main struck at Lingfield with Royal Melody.