"Whoever wins the Gold Cup, I wish him well and remind him he's only borrowed it"

OWNER JIM LEWIS has vowed Best Mate will return to try to reclaim his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown next season after the gelding was tragically ruled out of next week's big race.

The 10-year-old would have been trying for a fourth successive win in next Friday's blue riband, but he broke a blood vessel on the gallops yesterday. "It is sad news. I had a call from Henrietta (Knight). You know what happened on the gallops - he bled through the nose," Lewis revealed.

"It's very sad and very disappointing for all of us. I have had people coming in here crying their eyes out.