BEST MATE HEADS MARTELL FIELD Best Mate, the season`s leading novice chaser, heads a top-class line-up for the Martell Aintree Hurdle tomorrow. Henrietta Knight`s unbeaten novice was a hot favourite for the cancelled Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival and is to be aimed at the replacement race at Sandown at the end of the month. The Wantage trainer is not too concerned about Best Mate, who last ran over timber when scoring at Aintree 12 months ago, reverting to hurdles in the meantime. She said: 'I`m not worried about going back over hurdles as he had jumped fences in point-to-points before he went hurdling for us. 'He is very well and I thought he had to have a run before he goes to Sandown.' The going on the hurdle course at Aintree is currently described as soft, good to soft in places. Miss Knight added: 'I don`t think the ground will really bother him.' Among Best Mate`s rivals are last season`s Champion Hurdle runner-up Hors La Loi III, Barton winner of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, Francois Doumen`s Bounce Back and Nicky Henderson`s improving Tote Gold Trophy victor Landing Light. The other runners are Mister Banjo, First Ballot, Mr Cool and Teaatral.
