Coneygree posts novice best in Cheltenham Gold Cup

Coneygree has become the highest-rated novice chaser over any distance this century following his sensational performance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

British Horseracing Authority head of handicapping Phil Smith has handed the eight-year-old a m ark of 172 following his all-the-way succe ss in the blue riband last Friday, just a pound above Vautour after his scintillating display in the JLT.

Smit h said: “In February 2000, Gloria Victis won the Racing Post Chase by a very easy 10 lengths off a rating of 151. It was only his fifth chase and at the end of the season in the Anglo-Irish Jumps Classification he was allocated a figure of 166. This remained the highest-rated performance by a novice over any distance for over a decade.