An Hour of Racing History
Covered by a simple green rug, the big bay gelding is a picture.
Of the other contenders for the Gold Cup only Truckers Tavern, second last year, is there already and is being walked around the ring by his lass.
In comparison to Best Mate he looks scrawny and shaggy. The champion calmly strolls around the ring as first Alexander Banquet, and then Irish Hussar, Beef or Salmon and the others are led in.
Only Keen Leader has the same sort of stature as the champion, although the slightly comical manner in which his tongue lolls out of the side of his mouth, gives him a clownish look by comparison with 'Mate.
Desert Orchid, a former champion, here for parade duties before the big race sticks his head out of his box as the champion passes by, as if to acknowledge the presence of the new public hero.
First Gold is led in and is given a drink and is followed by Jim Lewis and his entourage and Mate's owner is immediately besieged by fans shaking his hand and slapping him on the back.
It is now nine minutes past the half-hour and over the tannoy in the background we hear the frantic commentator calling home the horses in the Stayers' Hurdle and Jonjo O'Neill's grey Iris's Gift holds on to beat Baracouda.
Three of the four reigning champions coming back to the festival this year have now been beaten.
Lewis gives no impression that he's even heard the Baracouda result. He walks around with Jenner and his horse chatting and laughing.
At 11 minutes to three, 26 minutes to the off, trainer Henrietta Knight and husband Terry Biddlecombe stroll into the pre-parade ring with friends and family. Hen is wearing the lucky clothes and pearls she's worn every time Matey has run in the Gold Cup.
The horse is led into his saddling box and is immediately surrounded by the support team while he is saddled up. Lewis does what must be his 100th television interview of the day thus far. It will not be his last, whatever the result.
Six minutes before the hour Best Mate is led out again and resumes circling the ring. Beef or Salmon strolls along behind; a sign, perhaps.
The horses leave for the parade ring proper at three minutes to three o'clock and his growing entourage walks out behind him and follows into the packed amphitheatre.
Knight stops to chat with fellow trainer Nicky Henderson who wishes her well. She is wringing her hands so furiously, she is in danger of doing herself an injury particularly as she happens to be holding her glasses.
It is now a minute past three and the jockeys emerge from the weigh room and Best Mate's jockey Jim Culloty, dressed in Jim Lewis's striking maroon and light blue striped colours, strides purposefully to the gathered connections. Terry Biddlecombe looks like he's about to have a coronary.
A minute later not too much time for small talk and Culloty mounts his steed. Biddlecombe gives him the leg up and they circulate the parade ring before heading for the track.
The horses file out past the stands and onto the racecourse where they parade for the massed throng.
Eleven minutes past three and Culloty and the horse have got down to the start. The preliminaries are over and the serious stuff is about to begin. Culloty presents the horse at what will be the first fence and canters back to the start.
A mighty roar welcomes the off at 14 minutes past three, a minute early.
The field approaches the second fence at what appears to be a suicidal pace, with First Gold leading. Harbour Pilot hits the obstacle with sickening ferocity and jockey Paul Carbery is lucky to stay aboard. This fence will be the last in two circuits time.
Culloty has settled Mate to track the leaders and looks calm and poised.
Fist Gold leads by four lengths at the top of the hill the first time and there have been no dramas or fallers. Best Mate is in fourth.
He's in third after the first circuit and jumping beautifully on the inner behind the French and Irish horses. Top of the hill the second time and the racing starts in earnest. Sir Rembrandt has joined the leading trio.
At 21 minutes past three, Jim Culloty asks Best Mate for his effort, but suddenly he finds himself boxed and none of the others are inclined to let him out. An audible gasp comes from the stands.
Finally daylight appears and as First Gold fades, Harbour Pilot and Best Mate lock horns at the front. They come to the last and Culloty eases back on his mount; he does not drive him at the obstacle, but allows him pop it. He leads. Harbour Pilot and Sir Rembrandt are not inclined to give it up and it is a battle to the line.
It is still 21 minutes past three when they past the post and the place descends into mayhem. Two minutes later and Biddlecombe and Knight scuttle up the chute to welcome their horse home. They are cheered as much as the horse. Neither is crying.
They eventually make it back to the winners' enclosure for wild and untrammelled celebrations where the horse, the jockey and the team from West Lockinge are feted for their achievement. Three Gold Cups; up there with Arkle.
At 33 minutes past three Best Mate is led out of the ring to further applause.
It is just over an hour since he emerged for his day of destiny, and it is 62 minutes which will live in the memory forever.
He is one of the greats and a fourth beckons.
