Coney Island bursts into Gold Cup picture with decisive success after absence

Coney Island had been off the track for almost a year but within five minutes of making a winning comeback he found himself in the top four in the betting for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Trainer Edward Harty believed the nine-length defeat of a very tired Adrien Du Pont in the three-runner graduation chase probably flattered the horse, even if Paddy Power took a different view in cutting him to 10-1 (from 20) for the festival highlight.

Those odds put Coney Island ahead of Bristol De Mai and Thistlecrack in the firm's market, although he remained available at 16-1 with William Hill, Sky Bet and Coral.