TERRY BIDDLECOMBE remains in hospital after suffering a stroke on Saturday, according to his wife, Henrietta Knight.

Another Irish jockey looks set to win the conditional jockeys’ title this year — following in the footsteps of Graham Lee, Paddy Brennan and Tom O’Brien. Declan Colley met with this latest Irish riding sensation, Aidan Coleman.

IT IS an absorbing story of a celebrated pony breed with origins going back 2,500 years to the days of the Celtic warriors, and intriguing links old and new to a prince of the past and a Knight of the present.

Timmy Murphy healed the wounds of a forgettable 24 hours by mastering the complicated Abragante in the feature race at Wincanton.

Connections of Aztec Warrior are contemplating a run at the Cheltenham Festival with the six-year-old after his comfortable victory in the Betfred “The Bonus King” Novices’ Chase at Wincanton.

Racing Demon could represent Henrietta Knight in the Stan James King George VI Chase if coming through some lesser tests first.

RUBY WALSH, fresh from his comeback success on Cornish Sett at Newbury on Saturday, heads the panel for the Cashmans Bookmakers Cheltenham Preview at the Silversprings Hotel in Cork tonight at 8pm.

THAT was a rather thought-provoking article on Cheltenham by Alastair Down in the Racing Post on Tuesday.

Racing Demon is reported to be “sparkling” as connections count down the days to next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

RACEGOERS were once again denied the chance to view potential steeplechasing star Racing Demon when the gelding was pulled out of an intended appearance at Ludlow yester day.

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.

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.

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

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.

Best Mate’s much-anticipated racecourse return ended in tragedy as he suffered a fatal heart attack in the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter.

JIM CULLOTY will not ride as stable jockey to Henrietta Knight next season although he will continue his partnership with triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate.

Jim Culloty will not ride as stable jockey to Henrietta Knight next season although he will continue his partnership with triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate.

Fans of Best Mate eager for signs that all is well at the Henrietta Knight yard received a tonic yesterday with the victory of Espresso Forte at Hereford.

HENRIETTA Knight and Terry Biddlecombe, the team responsible for four in-a-row Gold Cup seeking Best Mate at Cheltenham this day fortnight, head an all-star cast for the Cashmans Bookmakers Cheltenham Preview next Tuesday night.

Henrietta Knight today nominated Kingscliff and Celestial Gold as the biggest dangers to her beloved Best Mate when he attempts to register a fourth totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 18.

Best Mate continues on the road to recovery after what was a Christmas to forget for the triple Cheltenham Gold Cup hero.

Best Mate continues on the road to recovery after what was a Christmas to forget for the triple Cheltenham Gold Cup hero.

THERE is a time in every sporting career when the hero gets overturned by the guy next in line, or the no-hoper or by the fairy story - and that happened to Best Mate at Leopardstown yesterday when he was beaten by Beef or Salmon.

RUBY WALSH has opted to ride Azertyuiop instead of stable companion and second-favourite Le Roi Miguel in Sunday’s Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.

BEEF OR SALMON, in many ways the great nearly horse of Irish racing, has to finally stand and deliver in next Tuesday’s Lexus ’Chase at Leopardstown!

IT is two minutes after 2.30pm when Jacqui Jenner leads Best Mate into the pre-parade ring.

Terry Biddlecombe braved driving rain and a lashing wind to complete his annual pre-Cheltenham course walk yesterday – and left content that conditions could be ideal for Best Mate in the totesport Gold Cup.

LEADING Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Jair Du Cochet has been put down after suffering a tragic injury on the gallops.

Nicky Henderson’s amazing run of Saturday specials shows no sign of ending after Isio struck under Barry Geraghty to take the inaugural running of the £100,000 (€148,600) Vodafone Gold Cup at Newbury yesterday.

AS A JOCKEY, the late Pat Taaffe is rightly regarded as one of the all-time greats in National Hunt racing on the basis of his own record in the sport.

HENRIETTA KNIGHT will visit Kempton on Friday to walk the course as she decides whether to point the brilliant Best Mate at the Pertemps King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

BEST MATE simply lives on a different planet to any other chaser in the universe. That can be the only conclusion, following the total crushing of his rivals in yesterday’s Tote Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

DREAMS are fulfilled here. Dreams die here.

Gazing at the grey skies above her stables at West Lockinge Farm near Wantage, Henrietta Knight exuded a sense of relief that rain is in the offing.

Hussard Collonges has been a "nearly" horse this season but that could all change in the big one a week on Thursday.

TONY McCOY declared his love for Best Mate after the favourite provided plenty of Christmas cheer for punters with a battling success in the £150,000 Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton yesterday.