Recovered Coneygree is getting back on the treadmill

Coneygree, pictured being ridden by Richard Johnson, is likely to begin cantering within a month in anticipation of a return to action in the Spring (Picture: Julian Herbert/PA Wire).

The fragile 10-year-old, trained by Mark Bradstock, will miss the Cheltenham Festival for a second consecutive season as he continues to rehabilitate from a leg injury.

But the popular chaser is making encouraging progress and has been earmarked for the Punchestown Gold Cup towards the end of April.

Coneygree could even make a comeback before then. Assistant trainer Sara Bradstock said: “He’s still very much on target for Punchestown. He’s sound now – the vets have been in and have been very happy with him – but it’s a question of making absolutely sure that everything is perfect.

“Nicky Henderson has kindly allowed us to use his water treadmill, so he’ll be doing that and swimming before we canter him in about a month. The prognosis is 100 per cent positive and he will be back.”

Un De Sceaux will face six rivals in the rescheduled Spectra Cyber Security Solutions Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham tomorrow

The Grade One contest was saved from last weekend’s abandoned fixture at Ascot and will now be part of a bumper nine-race card at Prestbury Park.

The Willie Mullins-trained Un De Sceaux was a red-hot favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase off the back of a superb victory in this Grade One contest 12 months ago, but proved no match for a resurgent Sprinter Sacre at the Festival nor in the Celebration Chase at Sandown.

But with Sprinter Sacre retired, Un De Sceaux made a successful start to the current campaign in the Tingle Creek at Sandown in early December and is odds-on to follow up.

The field has a different complexion than it did last Saturday, with Gary Moore deciding the change of venue was against Ar Mad.

Malcolm Jefferson’s Cloudy Dream and Waiting Patiently, the latter victorious at Haydock on Saturday, have been handed entries in the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.

The field for the two-mile novice chase is headed by Altior and Min. Intriguingly, Jefferson’s pair hold alternative entries in the JLT Novices Chase over two and a half miles.

In other preliminary entries from Yorkshire stables, Sue Smith’s Vintage Clouds and Delusionofgrandeur hold entries in the three-mile RSA Novices’ Chase. The former is also in the JT McNamara National Hunt Chase for amateur riders.