Nictory Vote booked his ticket to the Cheltenham Festival with a comfortable success at Taunton - the second leg of a double on the card for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh.

Jim Lewis was back in the winner’s enclosure on King George day at Kempton as Breedsbreeze maintained a 100% record over fences in the Nigel Clark Feltham Novices’ Chase.

RUBY WALSH will return to action at Cheltenham tomorrow, just 27 days after having his spleen removed.

A field of 16 will go to post for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

A monster 156 entries, headed by recent Cheltenham winner Aigle D’Or, have been received for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival.

Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh continued where they left off in December with a 137-1 treble at Sandown.

Trainer Laura Mongan has been left searching for a replacement rider for Alsadaa in tomorrow’s Anglo Irish Bank Tolworth Hurdle after regular partner Colin Bolger suffered an injury at Lingfield.

John Gosden’s fact-finding mission into the psyche of Mussoorie can reveal more answers at Lingfield tomorrow.

Impek, winner of the William Hill Gold Cup at Exeter, has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

JIM LEWIS is hoping for a favour from fellow owner JP McManus as he would like Tony McCoy to partner Impek in tomorrow week’s totesport Peterborough Chase.

MOST people will be backing Baracouda for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, but as I wrote on Tuesday, I feel his best days are behind him.

IT’S funny how, given that everything at Cheltenham depends on the speed of forward movement, a horse who goes nowhere at all could bring the venue to a standstill.

A life-size bronze statue of triple totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Best Mate was unveiled at the course today.

Henrietta Knight confirmed that Impek will run in the Ryanair Chase and not the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

HENRIETTA KNIGHT has not ruled out the possibility of Impek lining up in for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month.

MOSCOW FLYER is on course for the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on Tuesday after pleasing connections in a gallop.

Conditions at Sandown have dried out ahead of the Stan James King George VI Chase meeting on Boxing Day with the going on the chase course now officially "good".

TONY DOBBIN could not contain his delight at landing the plum ride on the Betfair Million-seeking Kingscliff in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown next Monday.

Tony McCoy will be asked to ride the Jim Lewis-owned Impek in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown on Boxing Day.

Henrietta Knight confirmed today that Impek is to bid for a poignant victory in the Stan James King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

The ashes of triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate were laid to rest today in a ceremony at the scene of his greatest triumphs.

VALERIE LEWIS, wife of Jim Lewis, owner of triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate, has died after a seven-month battle with illness.

BEST MATE’S ashes will be laid to rest behind the winning post at Cheltenham prior to racing there on Saturday week.

Impek gained a poignant victory for owner Jim Lewis and trainer Henrietta Knight in the totesport Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.

Jim Lewis has revealed Leighton Aspell’s knowledge of Huntingdon was one of the key factors in the jockey picking up the ride on Impek in tomorrow’s totesport Peterborough Chase.

Owner Jim Lewis had to endure the heartbreak of seeing his triple Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Best Mate collapse and die at Exeter last week.

Jim Lewis has chosen to have Best Mate’s ashes laid to rest at the scene of his three victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Red Blazer, one of Henrietta Knight’s favourite horses, will fill the box left empty by Best Mate at her West Lockinge stables.

Champion racehorse Best Mate, which died during a race on Tuesday, was cremated today.

Triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate has been prevented from being buried at Exeter racecourse “because of government legislation” and he will be cremated instead.

Henrietta Knight paid tribute to the horse that “put my stable on the map” after triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate tragically collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack at Exeter yesterday.

BEST MATE’S story started on January 28, 1995 near Trim in County Meath, when the mare Katday produced a bay-coloured foal.

A BITTER DAY, in every sense of the word.

BEST MATE, the first chaser since Arkle to win three consecutive Gold Cups, died of a heart attack during a comeback race at Exeter yesterday.

Best Mate’s story started on January 28, 1995 near Trim in County Meath, Ireland when the mare Katday produced a bay-coloured foal.

JIM LEWIS believes his triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate can make an encouraging start to the season at Exeter today, despite conditions being far from ideal.

PAUL CARBERRY is to become the fourth jockey to ride Best Mate when the triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner makes his long-awaited reappearance at Exeter tomorrow.

Best Mate’s connections received a timely boost before his imminent reappearance as stablemate Impek gained a deserved success in the Bonusprint.com Old Roan Chase at Aintree.

Jim Lewis will be delighted if triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate makes the frame and returns sound after his long-awaited reappearance at Exeter next month.

Supreme Prince carries the hopes of the Philip Hobbs team in the bonusprint.com Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Sunday following the success of the ill-fated Farmer Jack in the corresponding race 12 months ago.

Trainer Henrietta Knight has warned triple Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Best Mate faces a stiff task when he makes his eagerly-awaited return to action.

The future of triple Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Best Mate is in the hands of Mother Nature, according to his trainer Henrietta Knight.

OWNER Jim Lewis will seek the best jockey available on the day for Best Mate following the retirement of the triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner’s regular partner Jim Culloty.