Lewis will get the best for Mate

OWNER Jim Lewis will seek the best jockey available on the day for Best Mate following the retirement of the triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner’s regular partner Jim Culloty.

Best Mate, trained by Henrietta Knight, is on course to return to action at Exeter on November 1 for the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup.

Several leading jump jockeys including Tony McCoy and Timmy Murphy, the only two to have ridden Best Mate apart from Culloty, have been put forward as potential partners for the season, but they have other commitments.