Cheltenham Gold Cup an option for More Of That
Winner of the World Hurdle in 2014, he only ran once last season when well beaten at Newbury, after which he underwent a breathing operation.
That appears to have been an unqualified success as he has looked imperious in winning his first two novice chases at Prestbury Park.
While he would be one of the favourites should he stay down the novice route for the RSA Chase, the exploits of Coneygree last season have certainly given connections something to think about.
“He came out of the race (on Saturday) fine and is in good form. We’ve not discussed where we are going next. We will sit down with JP (McManus, owner) and Frank (Berry, racing manager) and sort it out,” said O’Neill.
“The Gold Cup is a long way off and it’s a pretty good Gold Cup this year, but to me it would be silly not to make an entry in it. I think he could do with another run as he had a fairly solo run round. It would be nice to get another race into him for the experience.
“I was really worried last year when we operated on him and we have operated on plenty and it hasn’t worked. We knew he was a good horse and so far it’s working.”
O’Neill already has one Gold Cup in the bag with Synchronised but the trainer can see no comparisons between the pair.
“He is a different horse altogether as this fellow has pace and he can inject speed where as Synchronised was a good stayer,” said O’Neill, who also won the race as a jockey on Alverton and Dawn Run.
“The trip (Gold Cup) would be a question mark, whether he can do it, but he would be one that you could be confident in as he is so relaxed you can just switch him off.
“He got three miles in the World Hurdle and if there was one you could ride to get the trip he is the one.”
O’Neill, meanwhile, revealed that Shutthefrontdoor may be seen back out over hurdles as a route back to Aintree for another crack at the Crabbie’s Grand National is plotted.
Giving AP McCoy a fairytale ending to his career proved just beyond the eight-year-old, who faded into fifth behind Many Clouds after travelling supremely well for most of the race.
He made a pleasing reappearance over hurdles at Aintree last month and his trainer is targeting a return to Merseyside next spring.
“The main aim will be to go back for the Grand National. I was a bit disappointed to be honest last year, but he came back home quite sore,” said O’Neill.
“He is not the smoothest horse in the world but he is good when he is right. If I can get him back to the form he was before this year’s race I will be happy.
“I was going to go to Aintree (for the race won by Don Poli) but I decided against it as he was not quite right. I’ve not got a plan yet.
“Ideally I would like to get a couple of runs into him but it is just getting everything right, which is easier said than done with him.
“He might have another run over hurdles, but we will see how is when he’s right.”
The Jackdaws Castle handler also had news of Taquin Du Seuil, not seen since disappointing in the Ryanair Chase at last season’s Cheltenham Festival.
The eight-year-old is a previous winner at the big March meeting, having landed the 2014 JLT Novices’ Chase, and has had operation to insert a screw into his cannon bone since his last run.
“He has been operated on and he is good,” said O’Neill. “He has been on the walker for a week and has been swimming as well to help get him fit.
“He is not a horse that takes a lot of work as he is a fairly clean winded horse.
“The vets are very happy with the way it is going and he might be back to run at Cheltenham (in March). I’m not going to say it’s a definite but it’s a possibility.
“The owners have been very patient. If he does run at Cheltenham I would like him to have a run before that.”
