CONEYGREE'S pummelling pillar-to-post victory in last Friday's Cheltenham Gold Cup has earned the eight-year-old the highest rating for a novice chaser this century.

Racing's latest equine hero will be paraded at Newbury tomorrow ahead of the 3m21/2f handicap chase, a race which could feature his half-brother Carruthers.

Coneygree's revised mark of 172 eclipses the 169 earned by Sprinter Sacre in the 2012 Racing Post Arkle, a figure which has also been surpassed by Vautour, who was awarded 171 for his JLT Novices' Chase victory.

Senior handicapper Phil Smith alluded to concerns some had raised when he awarded Coneygree a higher mark for his win at Newbury last month than Denman had achieved as a novice.

Smith said: "Coneygree posted a remarkable mark of 172 when winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup, making him the highestrated novice chaser over any distance this century. As in his previous wins, Coneygree's time was particularly quick and he never saw another horse.

"There were some raised eyebrows when I assessed him at 166 after his win in the Denman Chase at Newbury, making him a higher-rated novice than the great Denman himself. There will be very few observers disagreeing now."

"Smith is clearly excited by the prospect of Coneygree and he added: "Vautour was the easiest of all of the Willie Mullins winners last week and looks a fantastic prospect for next season when he has to take on the older horses, probably over further."

The vintage 2015 crop also includes Arkle winner Un De Sceaux, whose rating of 168 puts him at number four on the list of the century's top novice chasers.

Of the seven names to appear on the list from previous years, only Sprinter Sacre subsequently went on to win a championship race at the festival.

The list is testimony to the decision Mark and Sara Bradstock made to target the Gold Cup this season.

Punchestown racing manager Richie Galway said he wants to let the dust settle before approaching the Bradstocks' about Coneygree's potential participation in the Bibby Financial Punchestown Gold Cup.

"They did mention it as a possibility in the immediate aftermath of the race, although I've read since he might be finished for the season," said Galway.

"No approach has been made yet, but we will talk to them before our entry stage on April 8 and, of course, if they were keen to run, we would love to have them."'There were a few raised eyebrows after the Denman Chase. There will be few disagreeing now'

Back to some domestic action, Wetherby raced on Tuesday and George Moore's Cowslip followed up her Carlisle success in the hands of Henry Brooke.

Afterwards the delighted winning trainer said: "My horses were all wrong during the winter and Cowslip was one who didn't show her form. But they are back in form now and she did that well."

Another Middleham handler, who was also on the mark at Wetherby was Sally Hall as Rock A Doodle Doo who landed the handicap hurdle under Adam Nicol.

It's hard to believe that the flat season kicks off next weekend, at Doncaster, and Mark Johnston's string seem in good nick, with several recent winners including the impressive Watersmeet who made all to win at Chelmsford City on Wednesday afternoon.

The winner made all the running under Joe Fanning, who said: "He would be better taking a lead. He was looking around a little bit and has always been like that and can keep improving."

Looking ahead, It's a good time of year for racing fans, a nice mix with the Grand National and the flat season both on the horizon.