Best Mate back on track at Exeter
The Henrietta Knight-trained 10-year-old has not raced since finishing second to Beef Or Salmon in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December and faces 10 rivals in the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup.
Lewis’ charge was denied a crack at a fourth blue riband when he broke a blood vessel during his last serious piece of work before the Festival.
But all has gone well with his preparation as he makes his seasonal debut on softish ground over two miles one and a half furlongs.
“The weather’s a worry. They had a lot of rain yesterday and there are showers about,” said Lewis. “If it’s good to soft ground we’ll be happy.
“He wants further but with it being his first race back we didn’t want to run him over a long trip. We have to start him off somewhere.
“Henrietta is happy with him and his blood is good.”
Miss Knight added: “We’re not necessarily expecting him to win but it should be a nice outing for him. He’s ready for a race.
“The distance is on the short side and there are good, quicker horses in there.
“We’re not expecting wonders from him but we hope he will run a good race.”
With Jim Culloty having retired and Timmy Murphy being claimed by Martin Pipe’s principal owner David Johnson for Arkle winner Contraband, Best Mate will have a new jockey in Paul Carberry.
Contraband’s connections are also keeping an eye on the weather.
“He’s very well but we wouldn’t want much more rain,” said Johnson.
“I think Ashley Brook is the one to beat. We’re 5lb better off with him than when we beat him in the Arkle but he easily beat us at Aintree when we weren’t at the races.”
Kevin Bishop is hoping Ashley Brook can prove himself worthy of going for two-mile championship honours.
The dual course winner signed off the last campaign with a convincing win in a Grade One novice chase at Aintree, where he accounted for War Of Attrition by 16 lengths.
“Before Ashley Brook won at Liverpool we were thinking of going further with him, but he was so impressive over two miles on a tight track,” said Bishop.
“We thought after that we would explore the two-mile route. We’ll stick to around that distance unless Paddy (Brennan) comes in tomorrow and says he’s crying out for further.”
Bishop is aware of the task facing his stable star.
“It’s a very hot contest. Being a handicap it looks a very open race. One or two of the outsiders are not out of it,” he went on.
“We’ve got to give Kauto Star 9lb. That looks a big ask if he’s as good as connections believe he is.
“Best Mate may well want further but he’s come down the ratings and we are only getting 6lb from him.
“I’m not concerned about the ground. It was soft when he won there first time out last season and he didn’t mind it.”
Kauto Star is on the comeback trail having been sidelined through injury since being short-headed by Mistral De La Cour after being remounted at this track nine months ago.
The French-bred five-year-old looked a star in the making when trouncing Foreman in a novice chase at Newbury a month earlier.
“He’s in good order but we’ve been fairly easy on him. Whatever he does tomorrow he will improve for the run,” said Nicholls.
Nicholls also saddles Kadarann, who has finished third in this race for the past two years, taking minor honours behind his stable companion Azertyuiop 12 months ago.
“He’s got it all to do but he runs well fresh and ran well in the race last year,” added Nicholls.
Richard Johnson is looking forward to renewing his association with Monkerhostin, who has not been seen in action since finishing third over hurdles at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
“He gets in at the bottom of the handicap and we hope he can run well,” the rider told At The Races.
“He should have a chance. I schooled him at home the other day and he seemed in great form.
“He made use of his handicap mark when he won the Bonusprint last year.
“Obviously the trip might be on the short side for him but it might be for one or two of the others as well, including Best Mate.”
Hobbs shares Johnson’s concerns, and added: “He’s in good form and we are using tomorrow’s race partly as a prep for the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday week. The trip might be a bit short for him.”
Alan King is also using this contest as a stepping-stone for Kadount.
“I’ve got to get him started and his aim is the Intermediate Chase at Windsor in two and a half weeks’ time,” said the Barbury Castle trainer.
“He should run well and he will improve for the race.”
An inch of rain fell at Exeter over the weekend and clerk of the course, Barry Johnson, said: “The chase course is good to soft, soft in places, although it’s only really one place, and I can’t see the ground changing a lot.”
