Coneygree, the rising star of Mark Bradstock’s Letcombe Bassett stables, near Wantage, is set to run next in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday, January 24.

The exciting eight-year-old has won both his starts over fences, including a runaway success in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

And now he is on course to test his mettle against seasoned campaigners, with Hennessy Gold Cup hero Many Clouds one of his likely rivals.

Although the Grade 2 contest is a recognised Gold Cup trial, Bradstock’s wife, Sara, said the RSA Chase remained Coneygree’s Cheltenham Festival target.

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She explained: “He will run in the Argento mainly because we want to give him a go round Cheltenham, and it will certainly tell us a bit more.

“He is heading for the RSA and he could go and run in another novice chase, but that could leave us in the same situation and with going to Cheltenham without the experience.

“He has done everything impressively, so he deserves the chance to take on horses that you really know what they are, so let’s hope he can beat them as well.

“He will get an entry in the Gold Cup, but our definite thinking is to go for the RSA. The reason he will get an entry in the Gold Cup is that if anything goes wrong with Silviniaco Conti it doesn’t look a very strong race.”

Meanwhile, Coneygree's stablemates, brothers Carruthers and Flintham, are set to run at Warwick on Saturday.

Carruthers will attempt to go one better in the Betfred Classic Chase than 12 months ago when he finished a gallant second to Shotgun Paddy.

And Flintham is on course for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle – a race Carruthers won in 2008.

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