Mate aims to be best of 32 Gold Cup entries

BEST MATE remains odds-on across the board to win an historic third Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup following the publication of the entries yesterday.

Best Mate, one of 32 entries for the March 18 contest, became only the sixth horse to successfully defend his title in chasing’s blue riband event when following up on his 2002 success last March.

At this year’s Festival he will bid to record a third successive Cheltenham Gold Cup victory, a feat only achieved before by the legendary trio of Arkle (1964-66), Cottage Rake (1948-50) and Golden Miller, who won jump racing’s top chase five times from 1932-36.