Grey Abbey - superb jumping show (Getty Images)

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Grey Abbey emerged as a live candidate for major end-of-season honours with a characteristically gutsy victory in the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham.

Attacking his fences with aplomb, the grey gelding stretched his unbeaten run to five - and the way the crowd welcomed him back to the winner's enclosure would suggest that last year's Scottish Grand National hero made plenty of friends in the process.

But trainer Howard Johnson, who had an across-the-card four-timer with a double at both Cheltenham and Doncaster, warned punters to look before leaping into the ante-post markets.

Grey Abbey is far from a certain runner in the totesport Gold Cup, despite being as short as 6-1 with Coral.

It was favourite Therealbandit who looked by far the biggest danger to the 10-3 winner off the home turn as he came there cantering under Timmy Murphy.

However, Grey Abbey was not to be denied and merely kicked on again, eventually scoring by 16 lengths under Graham Lee, who rode both the Johnson winners.

Royal Auclair stayed on at one pace for a distant third, while the well-backed novice Ollie Magern unshipped Carl Llewellyn after a mistake at the fourth fence.

Johnson said: "It's been a good day. He just burns them off with his jumping, he's so good at it.

"He hadn't jumped a fence since Wetherby (where he won the Charlie Hall Chase last October) until this week, but I popped him over a couple and he was electric.

"He's entered here and in the Grand National and we'll have to see. If it came up bottomless he'd probably run in the Gold Cup.

"My personal opinion is he's better on a flat track and I'd rather see him in the National. But it will be up to the owners to make the decision. Let's wait and see.

"It's going to be a big ask to beat Best Mate. You don't win three Gold Cups through any other way than by being a hell of a horse, but if it came up soft then he might not be a bad each-way bet."

Punters who imagine that a crack at the Gold Cup will be too much to resist - after all, the horse is now 11 and unlikely to be getting much quicker in years to come - can take 14-1 with Paddy Power and 16-1 with Cashmans.

Paddy Power are also longest about Grey Abbey for the Grand National, offering 20s.

Lee could potentially face an interesting dilemma at Aintree, given that he rode Amberleigh House to win the race last year.

He said of Grey Abbey: "He took off at one where a jet wouldn't have left the ground. He is just a proper joy to ride.

"He knew what he was doing and you can leave your brain in the weighing room when you ride him.

"He is so tough and genuine and has made my day. I'll leave running plans to the boss and the owners, but I am just going to enjoy today. It is a big day and I am going to make the most of it."

Martin Pipe said of Therealbandit: "He has run a good race. They went a good pace, but the winner is a stayer. Hopefully mine will be better on better ground.

"He ran a lot better than last time at Kempton. He is still a baby. Hopefully he will take his chance in the Gold Cup."

Royal Auclair's trainer Paul Nicholls was also inclined to attribute his charge's performance to the ground.

"He has come back fine and his target is Aintree (Grand National) - he just wants faster ground," he said.

"It's always the same at this meeting, and between now and spring everything changes."