McCoy Hails Great Mate Tony McCoy described Best Mate as 'the best steeplechaser we´ve seen around for a long time' as he paid tribute to the triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, who died at Exeter on Tuesday. The champion jockey rode the bay gelding on two occasions, both of which came in the King George VI Chase at Kempton when he replaced the horse´s regular partner Jim Culloty. McCoy finished second to Florida Pearl on Boxing Day, 2001 but went one better 12 months later when Best Mate defeated Marlborough by a length and a half. Henrietta Knight´s champion collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack after being pulled up before three out in the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup. 'I was lucky enough to have ridden him in two King Georges and won once. But apart from that he won three Gold Cups and he was the best steeplechaser we´ve seen around for a long time and for that to happen to him was very sad,' McCoy told Sky Sports News. 'Obviously he loved what he did otherwise he wouldn´t have been so good at it. He died doing what he loved.' Describing the horse´s qualities, he said: 'He was a very good stayer, a very good jumper, a very well-balanced horse and mentally he was very relaxed and very professional. And that´s why he was capable of winning three Gold Cups. 'He won a King George at Kempton on a track which probably didn´t suit him, on ground that didn´t suit him, and it was just his class and brilliance that made him do that. 'Arkle won three Gold Cups and it was a long time before another horse came along to achieve the same as he did so I´m sure it will be pretty much the same with Best Mate. 'It will be a long time before we see a horse who can achieve what Best Mate did.' Referring to the horse´s popularity, he continued: 'I think the public got to the stage when they knew they were seeing a horse who was that good and they hadn´t seen one like him for such a long time. 'He was a very good-looking horse and he walked round the parade ring like a show horse, just as if he knew everyone was looking at him. He had that charisma about him. 'He was a very good horse in every way. He was such a brilliant racehorse. 'My special memory would be winning the King George and I feel very privileged to have ridden such a brilliant horse.'(C) PA Sport
