Trainer Mark Bradstock and jockey Nico de Boinville were delighted with Coneygree's pre-Punchestown gallop at Ffos Las on Sunday.
The 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner stepped up his preparation for returning to action at the Festival later this month by galloping a circuit of the Welsh track and jumping nine fences.
Absent from racing since finishing second to Cue Card in the Betfair Chase last November, Coneygree drew a gasp from the crowd with an extravagant leap at the open ditch in the home straight – before gradually pulling away from stablemate and half-brother Flintham.
Bradstock felt his stable star, who has run just twice since his Gold Cup victory, showed he retains all his enthusiasm.
He said: “I'm over the moon. He hasn't lost any sparkle, which we didn't think he had any way. He jumped brilliantly, even if he was a bit brave at the ditch.
“Hopefully we'll be going to Ireland. He still needs a bit of work into him, but he was fabulous.”
The ten-year-old is due to meet this year's Gold Cup winner Sizing John in the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup on April 26, with great odds available alongside a Sun Bets promotion code, and jockey De Boinville is excited by the prospect.
After travelling to Ffos Las just to ride Coneygree, he said: “He felt really good. He was fresh and well and it was just a question of keeping a lid on him.
“He was full of it and came out of my hands at the open ditch, just because he was feeling so well.
“He was class and as long as we keep him sound it's all systems go for Punchestown. The feel he gave me there was fantastic.”
