Mate trimmed for fourth Gold Cup after support

With the race for the Flat jockeys’ championship all over bar the shouting, punters turned their attentions to the winter game with a vengeance yesterday.

Interest will be at fever pitch when three-time Gold Cup winner Best Mate makes his reappearance at Exeter next month.

And Henrietta Knight’s superstar was cut to 2-1 from 9-4 for the blue riband by Ladbrokes yesterday after the ‘Magic Sign’ laid a bet of £4,000 (€5,800) at 9-4.

Realistic challengers to his crown are not that easy to find, but Paul Nicholls’ young pretender Strong Flow has been well supported with William Hill.

Speaking after cutting the seven-year-old to 8-1 second favourite (from 14s), Hills’ David Hood said: “This is the first significant move of the National Hunt season and it’s a great indication of the fact that the jumps season is beginning to get into full swing.”