Home bred by his devoted trainer Mark Bradstock and wife Sara, Coneygree also galloped to Festival glory three years earlier, winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

But the 15-year-old bay, who also won a succession of other top flight races, is proving a big hit in the showing ring, too, with a string of successes in the increasingly popular Retraining Of Racehorses (RoR) competitions, as well as local events.

“He’s a good looking horse who loves posing, so showing is the ideal pursuit for him,” smiles Sara. “Like any champion, he loves people looking at him and pricks his ears when he hears a camera shutter.

“He gets a lot of attention at home in the yard, as you can imagine. He has a home for life here but he lights up when we take him out and about, whether it’s a show or a parade.”

Max, as he’s affectionately known, has been placed in two national RoR finals at Hickstead and Aintree and was a highly creditable fourth in a similar class at the Royal Windsor Show last year.

“I hope to get him qualified for this year’s finals and will continue to show him in local competitions. He’s actually unbeaten in local unaffiliated shows,” she adds.

Coneygree has proven a big hit in retired racehorse parades at race meetings around the country. He delighted racegoers at Warwick last month alongside other former stars including 2008 Gold Cup runner- up Barbers Shop and 2014 RSA Chase second Smad Place and will be strutting his stuff at this year’s Festival, too.

“It’s his choice what he does,” insists Sara. “I’ll keep taking him out and about as long as he’s enjoying himself. It’s good for him to keep fit and active so hopefully he will keep on delighting his many admirers for a long time to come.”

The son of Karinga Bay, who ran in the name of the Max Partnership, won nine of his 18 career starts. Among his most notable successes aside to his two Festival conquests were the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, the Grade 2 Denman Chase and three other top level races.

He amassed over half a million pounds in prize money, surpassing the earnings of his illustrious half- brother Carruthers whose CV included the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase and the Hennessy Gold Cup.