Knight's best chance of Gold repeat

Gazing at the grey skies above her stables at West Lockinge Farm near Wantage, Henrietta Knight exuded a sense of relief that rain is in the offing.

One of the warmest Februarys in memory caused the trainer of hot Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Best Mate to go onto the back foot for a few agonising days, but news from Cheltenham that rain had at last arrived from the west brought with it revived optimism that the gelding will become the first winner of back-to-back Gold Cups since L’Escargot in the 1970 and 1971.