LESS than nine years after he saddled Coneygree to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, trainer Mark Bradstock died last weekend, aged just 66.

Along with his wife Sara, Bradstock trained Coneygree to become the first novice since Captain Christy 41 years earlier to land the blue riband at Prestbury Park in 2015.

The Old Manor Stables handler also saddled Carruthers to win the 2011 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, while Step Back was another big-race victor in the 2018 bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

Coneygree was ridden at Cheltenham by Nico de Boinville, who is now established as one of the top riders in the sport.

He wrote on social media: “Thinking of the Bradstock family. I owe them all so much, they played an integral part in getting me going. Mark will be hugely missed.”

Bradstock’s final runner Mr Vango won the Devon National at Exeter on February 23rd by 60 lengths and remains among the entries for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham next Tuesday, now trained by Sara.