Connections of Coneygree are leaning towards running him in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday rather than in the RSA Chase on Wednesday.

Trainer Mark Bradstock admitted it was ground conditions, rather than the opposition, that would be the main factor in influencing the final decision as to which race to run his classy novice chaser, who is unbeaten in all of his three starts over fences.

That is likely to be made before 10am on Tuesday morning, when declarations are made for the RSA, while the deadline for the Gold Cup is on Wednesday morning.

Bradstock told At The Races: "I spoke to Simon Claisse (Cheltenham clerk of the course) this morning and he said we are due seven millimetres of rain before Friday, so we are definitely edging towards the Gold Cup, but I will be walking the course very early in the morning.

"We schooled him over 10 fences this morning. He jumped absolutely super. Pretty much the ground is definitely the main issue.

"I will be there very early as we have to make the decision by 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, but we are certainly edging towards the Gold Cup rather than the RSA.

"The Gold Cup is very open and I think there are a good 10 (horses) that have got as much of a chance as anything.

"He's pretty tough and he will take no prisoners."