Biddlecombe gives thumbs-up after track walk

Terry Biddlecombe braved driving rain and a lashing wind to complete his annual pre-Cheltenham course walk yesterday – and left content that conditions could be ideal for Best Mate in the totesport Gold Cup.

The former champion jockey declared the ground on the New Course, where Thursday’s big race will be run, to be riding better than on the Old Course.

Biddlecombe made the journey from Wantage after Channel 4 had visited his wife Henrietta Knight’s yard for a Morning Line programme.

“There’s a bit more cut on the Old track than on the New,” commented Biddlecombe as he pricked the ground with his walking stick.

“Much depends on how much more of this rain comes, but I imagine the ground will ride better on the Gold Cup course and that conditions will be quicker on Thursday than they are now.”

The Old Course will be used for the first two days of the Festival, with the action switching to the New Course on Thursday.

Biddlecombe believes prior knowledge of the track is a particular asset at Cheltenham.

He added: “I always walked this course twice when I was a jockey, before the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup.

“It’s most important to know where to be in a race at any given time and tactics play a very big part. If you don’t examine the course and know where it’s best to be, you run risks.”