Mate faces trio at Ascot

Best Mate will face just three rivals when he bids to maintain his unbeaten record over fences in the First National Gold Cup at Ascot tomorrow and connections are very hopeful of victory for the six-year-old.

The Henrietta Knight-trained Best Mate made an impressive return to action at Exeter to earn a new rating of 169 which means he will have to concede 20lb to Martin Pipe`s Wahiba Sands, Nicky Henderson`s Dusk Duel and Logician from Ian Balding`s yard in tomorrow`s race.

Dusk Duel and Best Mate met at Cheltenham just over a year ago when the latter came out on top by 29 lengths, when Henderson`s charge was in receipt of 4lb.

However, there were excuses for Dusk Duel as he was travelling equally as well as Best Mate when he slipped badly on landing after the penultimate fence forfeiting whatever chance he had.

'Dusk Duel was behind him when he made a mistake last year at Cheltenham and they all thought he would have won but I have my doubts,' Miss Knight`s husband TerryBiddlecombe told the Racing Channel.

'I`m delighted there`s only three, you don`t want too many runners round there. He`ll travel well and let`s hope he jumps a good clear round.

'He hardly had a race last time. He`s bouncing at home and has eaten up.

'I`m not too much worried about the weight. He`s a big horse he should carry it.'

Best Mate`s owner Jim Lewis and Miss Knight also have Edredon Bleu at Huntingdon where the 2000 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner will be trying to win the BBA Peterborough Chase for the fourth year running.

Edredon Bleu will be partnered by Norman Williamson for the first time.

And Biddlecombe added: 'Norman came round the other morning and he jumped well for him.

'Let`s hope we don`t have too much rain there and it doesn`t get too soft for him because he does like to hear his little feet rattle.

'But it`s no walkover.'