Irish horses dominate Gold Cup betting after Coneygree setback

Irish-trained horses dominate the betting for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after Britain’s number one hope and reigning champion Coneygree was taken out of the ante-post lists for the blue riband in March.

The Mark Bradstock-trained eight-year-old has gone to Newmarket for further veterinary assessment after suffering an injury and it is believed he will miss the rest of the campaign.

Coneygree, who looked so impressive on his return to action at Sandown in November, had been in the frame to run over Christmas in either the King George VI Chase at Kempton or in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.