MADISON Du Berlais could step up in class following his victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

David Pipe may consider conditions races for the sevenyear- old, who sprang a 25-1 surprise when giving the trainer his first victory in the prestigious handicap chase.

‘‘He seems fine,’’ said the Nicholashayne-based handler.

‘‘Obviously he’s going to go up (in the handicap) for that and he may have to try and step up again and maybe go for a conditions race.

‘‘Madison loves it at Newbury.

He’d won a two-and-ahalf- mile handicap there before.

We had three winners yesterday so it was a good day all round.’’ Charlie Mann hopes to find the most ‘‘winnable’’ race between the Stan James King George VI Chase and the Lexus Chase for Air Force One following his fine second.

The Upper Lambourn trainer is eyeing Kempton’s Christmas cracker on Boxing Day or Leopardstown’s showpiece on December 28 for the six-yearold.

‘‘He’s obviously had a fairly hard race but he’s come out of it fine and has trotted up,’’ said Mann.

‘‘I don’t think the ground helped but I think he got through it better than he would have done last year as he’s a bit stronger.

‘‘If he’d have jumped the last two fences I think he’d have won anyway. I didn’t realise that he hit the secondlast fairly hard and the last as well.

‘‘I was very proud of him and I see he has been shortened in the betting for the King George and the Gold Cup now.

‘‘His next race will either be the King George or the Lexus in Ireland.

‘‘On this run he’s proved himself up to it. A lot of things have to go into the equation and it would be whichever race was the most winnable. He’s been second twice now so I’d like to get his head in front.”

Air Force is a best-priced 16- 1 for the King George and as big as 20-1 for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Snoopy Loopy is set to be supplemented for the King George after finishing a creditable third.