Best Mate heads eight in Lexus
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.
He is likely to be taken on by the Michael Hourigan-trained Beef Or Salmon, who was beaten 13 lengths in third place 12 months ago, and Noel Meade’s Harbour Pilot, who has finished third behind Best Mate in the last two Gold Cups.
Tom Taaffe has left in Kicking King although the six-year-old is set to run in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day instead.
Willie Mullins is considering running Rule Supreme, third to Baracouda in the Long Walk Hurdle on Saturday, while the entry is completed by Pizarro, Barrow Drive and Cloudy Bays.
Meade will wait until much nearer the day before deciding whether Harbour Pilot will run.
The gelding was pulled up in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown at the beginning of the month and it was feared he might have had a heart problem, but tests showed nothing untoward.
Meade said: “Basically we couldn’t find anything wrong with him and we slowed things down a good deal after what happened.
“He’s now back doing strong canters, although we haven’t asked him to do any quick work and we will wait until the last possible minute before making a decision about the Lexus.
“Obviously he would have to do some stronger work between times. If the ground came up heavy and Best Mate didn’t run, it would certainly be more tempting.”
: Cashmans bet - 4-9 Best Mate, 3 Beef Or Salmon, 12 Pizarro, 25 Cloudy Bays
Paddy Power bet: 4-7 Best Mate, 5-2 Beef Or Salmon, 10-1 Pizarro, Harbour Pilot, 14-1 Rule Supreme, 25-1 Cloudy Bays, 66-1 Barrow Drive.
