Ericsson target for Best Mate

The clash of the titans, Best Mate and Beef Or Salmon, is on after yesterday´s surprise move by Henrietta Knight to rule her dual-Gold Cup winner out of the King George at Kempton.

Instead Best Mate will travel to Leopardstown for Sunday´s Ericsson Chase where last year´s winner, and the top staying chaser in Ireland, Beef Or Salmon, lies in wait.

After intensive talks with owner Jim Lewis, Knight said yesterday evening: 'Best Mate goes to Ireland to get the easier ground. I think it might be too quick for him at Kempton and we feel it is in the best interests of the horse. We are preparing him for a third Gold Cup.'

Bookmaker reaction was swift with Cashmans installing Best Mate as low as 5 to 4 favourite with Beef Or Salmon on 9 to 4. The Jonjo O´Neill-trained Keen Leader is an 11 to 4 third favourite.

The only time Best Mate and Beef Or Salmon clashed before was in last season´s Gold Cup which ended in anti-climax with Beef Or Salmon´s exit at the third fence.

Earlier this week, the Irish star´s trainer Michael Hourigan said he would like it if Best Mate travelled here instead of defending his King George crown.

'It would be like the Gold Cup if Best Mate and Keen Leader came. They are the horses to beat and it would be great because we would all know where we stand,' he said.

The going at Leopardstown remained 'yielding to soft' yesterday with rain expected on Friday.

'A lot will depend on how much rain is forecast then but as it is the news about Best Mate is a huge bonus. It should make it a great race,' said Leopardstown´s racing manager Tom Burke.

Cashmans bet: 5-4 Best Mate, 9-4 Beef Or Salmon, 11-4 Keen Leader, 20 Harbour Pilot, 25 Le Coudray and Rince Ri, 40 Bar.

Paddy Power bet: 13-8 Best Mate, 9-4 Beef Or Salmon, 5-2 Keen Leader, 14 Harbour Pilot, 16 Rince Ri, 20 Bar.