Carberry handed ride on Best Mate
Following the retirement of Jim Culloty, owner Jim Lewis and trainer Henrietta Knight had originally hoped Timmy Murphy would be free to partner the ten-year-old in the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup.
Tony McCoy has ridden Best Mate before, but Murphy was the preferred option having taken him to victory at the Devon track last year in the William Hill Chase, but he is set to be claimed by his retaining owner David Johnson.
Lewis told At The Races: “We’ve gone for Paul, mainly because we knew possibly that Timmy was unable to ride and it’s now been confirmed that he is wanted for Contraband unless the rain makes a deluge of it all.”
Carberry has seen plenty of Best Mate, having beaten him with Beef Or Salmon on his most recent start 10 months ago at Leopardstown.
The jockey also finished third to the son of Un Desperado when aboard Harbour Pilot in the 2004 Gold Cup.
Lewis added: “I have rated Paul Carberry for a long time, even before he waved at my horse with a little finger to catch him up in the Lexus Chase last Christmas, so he’s got his chance to make amends with me now!”
“He hasn’t sat on him but I think all the top jockeys will tell you although it is very handy to have been up on the horse it is not the be-all and end-all and if you are good enough it is not so necessary.
“In an ideal world it would have been nice but Paul will speak to Timmy and to Jim Culloty and he will know more about Best Mate when he gets on him than maybe any other jockey.”
Lewis was not too concerned about the large amount of rain falling at Exeter and reported Best Mate to be in good health, having been ruled out of a tilt at a fourth Gold Cup when he broke a blood vessel in his final workout before the race.
“I expect it to be good to soft at the very best and he would run in that. He is very well and he has been in great form,” continued Lewis.
“You will never know until we get to the end of the race, but if we get there and we are still in one piece, it will be a mighty relief for all of us.”
Best Mate is a general 8-1 shot for the Gold Cup.
