Coneygree© Photo Healy Racing
Coneygree delighted his connections after enjoying a spin at Newbury in the hands of David Bass.
The 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was pulled up on his reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, suffering a nasty cut, but trainer Mark Bradstock is confident he is back on song ahead of a tilt at the Ladbrokes Trophy a week on Saturday.
Bradstock, who won the race in 2011 with Coneygree's half-brother Carruthers when it was known as the Hennessy Gold Cup, said: "We brought him here for a confidence-booster after his mishap at Wetherby. He jumped three fences and all went tickety-boo."
He went on: "He jumped three fences superbly. David had never sat on him before in his life and was absolutely over the moon and wanted to go round again.
"We schooled him yesterday (Monday). Sean Bowen came in and rode him as Nico (de Boinville) had to go racing. That went very well as well.
"He came back from Wetherby with a nasty cut on his foot. Touching every piece of wood, it looks all right after this performance.
"Fingers crossed we will be back in 12 days. It's all systems go for the Ladbrokes Trophy."
Nicky Henderson is set to fire a twin assault with Whisper and Vyta Du Roc.
Having finished second to esteemed stablemate Might Bite at Cheltenham and Aintree last spring, Whisper made a successful return in a two-runner race at Kempton last week. Vyta Du Roc blew away the cobwebs by running over hurdles at Aintree.
Henderson said: "I know nobody likes watching two-horse races, but that was perfect for Whisper. He definitely needed a run and he was not going to be able to run here without one.
"Vyta Du Roc ran in a hurdle race at Aintree and, like Whisper, he needed it. Both have come on a lot for it, both will do a bit of work this weekend and then hopefully be ready to attack."
Carole's Destrier was beaten just half a length into second by Native River in last year's renewal and though he has not been seen in competitive action since disappointing in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow last December, trainer Neil Mulholland is delighted with his condition.
He said: "He has been very good. He had a racecourse gallop a couple of weeks ago.
"He was intended to run at Ascot (Sodexo Gold Cup, November 4) but we took him out on the day because of the ground.
"He has been good since his racecourse gallop and he has come here to freshen up."
The Warren Greatrex-trained Missed Approach was runner-up in the National Hunt Chase at last season's Cheltenham Festival before finishing eighth in the Scottish Grand National.
He was pulled up on his seasonal reappearance over hurdles at Wetherby earlier this month but also caught the eye in a Newbury racecourse gallop.
Greatrex said: "That was good. He doesn't do a tap at home. I was chuffed to bits.
"He's got a great weight (in the Ladbrokes Trophy). He likes this track and he has won around here before.
"He is a good jumper and stays very well. I think his best ever run was in the Scottish National when he was still leading going to two out.
"He has worn cheekpieces before, but it's just whether I go for blinkers with one hit. I am just pondering that one."
