CONEYGREE could make his eagerly-awaited return in the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday.

The 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, trained by Mark Bradstock at Letcombe Bassett, near Wantage, missed his intended seasonal reappearance in the Guinness Kerry National at Listowel in September due to the heavy ground.

Now connections are hoping conditions will be suitable in Yorkshire this weekend for the ten-year-old to tackle the Grade 2 contest.

Coneygree was last seen in action when finishing a close third to Sizing John, this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup hero, in the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup in April.

And the son of Karinga Bay has the option of a return trip to Ireland for the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal, also on Saturday.

East Ilsley trainer Hughie Morrison will be in Australia to supervise Marmelo’s final preparations ahead of the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday.

The four-year-old shot to the top of the betting for the race which stops a nation after putting in an eye-catching display to dead-heat for sixth in the recent BMW Caulfield Cup won by 50-1 shot Boom Time.

Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon reached the milestone of 500 career winners when Aunty Ann galloped home at Worcester.

He was particularly pleased Jordan Nailor was on board the landmark winner, with the amateur jockey giving the six-year-old mare a positive ride to beat Strongly Suggested by a length and a half in a handicap chase over two miles and seven furlongs.

Longsdon said: “It was terrific for it to be Jordan riding as he has been working in the yard for a few seasons now and rides very well.”

His 500 winners in 11 years of training consist of 492 over jumps in the UK plus six on the Flat, and a success apiece in Ireland and France from Snow Leopardess.

Longsdon moved on to 501 a day later when Fly Home Harry took a three-mile handicap chase at Ludlow by a length from Running Wolf under Paul O’Brien.

The pair combined again to strike with Wilberdragon in a two-and-a-half-mile novices’ handicap chase at Wincanton.

Raashdy won twice in four days at Kempton and Wolverhampton to complete a hat-trick for Hook Norton trainer Peter Hiatt and jockey Luke Morris after starting his winning streak at Chelmsford City.