Best Mate in great form ahead of third Tote Gold Cup attempt

Trainer Henrietta Knight today reported her dual Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Best Mate in 'great form' ahead of his third attempt at the prestigious contest on Thursday, March 18.

The nine-year-old is seeking to become the first horse since Arkle to win chasing´s Blue Riband three times, following his victories in 2002 and 2003. Best Mate has run twice so far this season, finishing second to Jair Du Cochet in the Tote Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on November 22 before a decisive success in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

Speaking today on a Cheltenham Racecourse-organised media day at her West Lockinge yard, Knight reported: 'Best Mate has had a letdown since Leopardstown but is in great form and we are very happy with him. He will have a couple more gallops before Cheltenham and Jim [Culloty] will jump a couple of fences to keep his eye in but that will be it.

'We shall not turn him out any more before Cheltenham in the paddocks because he likes a roll and bucking. He just goes for a walk in the afternoon with Jackie Jenner at the moment.

'We had a goal from the day he won last year and that was to get him there again on March 18 this year. If you have a top horse there are not many races to run in and not that many other horses in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup have run many times either. I´m finding it a strain this year, the thought of getting beaten is horrendous. One thing I do OK is sleep, I just get into bed to listen to Terry snoring and that acts as a lullaby!

'We are trying to do everything the same this year as it worked before. The 22 fences are a big worry, some horse might come down and get in his way. We have been very lucky to have had a peach of a run there twice before. I do worry a bout a few of the other as well, I´m still frightened of Jair Du Cochet, he beat us squarely at Huntingdon. If Best Mate doesn´t win it will take a bit of digesting as there was a big downer after Huntingdon.'

In addition to Best Mate, Knight has a number of other contenders she is looking forward to running at the National Hunt Festival.

In the Coral Cup on Wednesday, March 17, Knight is hoping to be represented by Inca Trail and Foly Pleasant.

'Inca Trail is in very good form and has always been a good horse. He went down to Bristol University for the second of two breathing operations he has had before his last run and it has hopefully done the trick. He didn´t take to fences like his brother Best Mate, he´s not quite as brave but he will like the ground and distance at Cheltenham.

'It might be a bit quick for Foly Pleasant but the plan is to run him as well in the Coral Cup because he is so high in the handicap that he can´t run over fences. He ran well at Haydock the other day.'

The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, run over four miles on Wednesday, March 17 is the longest race at the Festival and Knight is hoping to be represented in the race by Rosslea.

'Rosslea stays forever and although he´s a bit one-paced he jumps very well. I´ve always thought he would be a suitable candidate for the National Hunt Chase and he´s been very consistent throughout, finishing second to The Realbandit, Our Vic and Pizarro. If it comes up with some cut at Cheltenham he will have a very good chance and Richard Burton will ride.'

In the Royal & SunAlliance Novices´ Hurdle, Knight is hoping to run Yardbird, an improving sort who won on his latest appearance at Ascot.

'Yardbird has run consistently well for us this year. He ran well at Ascot and may not be one of the top contenders for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices´ Hurdle but is worthy of a run and improving all the time.'

Impek has shown good form throughout the season and he is set to be the stable´s representative in the Cathcart Chase on Thursday, March 18.

'Impek has done nothing wrong all season and he will like the good ground. He has shown a liking for Cheltenham and I haven´t lost faith in him. He´s a class horse.'

The JCB Triumph Hurdle, the opening race on Thursday, November 18 is not the type of race usually targeted by Henrietta Knight but she feels she has a live contender for this year´s renewal in the shape of Tusk.

'We´ve always loved Tusk. He didn´t sell at the sales so Mick Channon brought him here to school and after he had jumped here three times Terry and I thought we might be able to get a buyer for him. The JCB Triumph Hurdle is not my sort of race but he is a huge, big horse who is strong and tough and able to take the hurly burly. We bought him as a chaser so I don´t know how he won over five furlongs as a two-year-old but he loves a battle.'

In the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Chase, Knight is hoping to have two representatives in the form of Midland Flame and Rathbawn Prince.

'Midland Flame may run this weekend at Newbury because he does no work at home and he´ll then go for the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase in which we will also run Rathbawn Prince, who will be ridden by Jim Culloty´s wife-to-be Susie Samworth. Rathbawn Prince may run at Newbury on Friday before Cheltenham.'