MATE WAITS FOR SANDOWN Exciting novice chaser Best Mate is set to miss Doncaster this weekend and will instead line up in the Scilly Isles Novices` Chase at Sandown seven days later. Trainer Henrietta Knight is worried that the ground will be too cut up on Town Moor and is not prepared to risk the Arkle Challenge Trophy candidate. 'The horse is very well but I don`t think Doncaster is a good idea, so we`re going to take a chance with the weather and hope that Sandown is OK the following weekend,' she said. Also likely to be in action at the Esher track on the same day is Knight`s Edredon Bleu. The nine-year-old, who will try to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase for the second year in a row in March, is pencilled in for the Elmbridge Chase. Knight confirmed that Southern Star will also not be taking up his entry in the River Don Novices` Hurdle at Doncaster on Saturday and he will now be aimed at a valuable auction event at Wincanton. But the trainer is planning to take the wraps off Lord Noelie this weekend with the Gold Cup contender earmarked for the Pillar Chase at Cheltenham. 'I think his owners have probably forgotten they`ve got a horse. He needs a run and unless it`s bad ground he`ll be running at Cheltenham,' she said.
