Best Mate heads eight in Lexus

BEST MATE will face a maximum of seven rivals when he bids for back-to-back victories in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown next Tuesday.

The triple Cheltenham Gold Cup hero took this Grade One three-mile contest by nine lengths from Le Coudray last December when it was known as the Ericsson Chase.

Henrietta Knight’s nine-year-old is the only British-trained horse among the eight five-day declarations in the absence of Jonjo O’Neill’s Keen Leader, who had been a possible contender.