Best Mate will be back, vows Lewis

Owner Jim Lewis has warned that this year’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner will only be borrowing the title until Best Mate is back on form.

Lewis’ star performer and three-time race winner has been ruled out of the blue riband after breaking a blood vessel on the gallops this morning.

The 10-year-old was set to bid for a fourth successive win in the Grade One event next Friday but trainer Henrietta Knight has confirmed he will not run again this season.

“It is sad news and I only heard about an hour ago. I had a call from Henrietta, you know what happened on the gallops, he bled through the nose,” Lewis told At The Races.

“It’s very sad and very disappointing for all of us really. I have had people coming in here crying their eyes out. You would think it was a disaster, well, it isn’t a disaster, a tsunami is a disaster.

“I’m really sorry for everybody that lost money, including myself, but we are hopeful that he will be back to normal next year and whoever wins the Gold Cup this year, I shall wish him all the best and remind him that he has only borrowed it.”

Knight was due to put the finishing touches to Best Mate’s preparation in the work on Mick Channon’s gallop earlier today.

Lewis explained: “He went on the gallops at about 9.30am and Jackie (Jenner, Best Mate’s groom) was not happy with him as he got into the middle of his work.

“She slowed him down because she wasn’t happy with him and pulled him to a halt and there was blood coming down the nose.

“The vet has seen him and he said there’s absolutely no way he would run so the dream has come to a temporary end.”

Best Mate is now set for a long summer break and Miss Knight is hoping he can bounce back in style next season.

“Whenever they break a blood vessel it is serious but it is not career-threatening and hopefully he will come back as good as new next season,” said Miss Knight.

“It will not have healed in time for the Gold Cup, it is very disappointing.”

Best Mate was the general 5-2 favourite for the race despite being well beaten by Beef Or Salmon on his last start at Leopardstown over Christmas.

He was found to be coughing after that race though, and Miss Knight feels that virus may be responsible for the current problem.

She said: “These things are often caused by a virus and he had picked one up while he was in Ireland and I think it is all linked. He will have a long rest now though and will not run again this season.”

Robert Alner’s Kingscliff is now the 7-2 favourite with Ladbrokes, William Hill and totesport while Coral go a best-priced 9-2.

Paul Nicholls’ Strong Flow is the 11-2 second favourite with Hills while they go 13-2 about the next best choice Beef Or Salmon.

Kicking King, who was confirmed a runner by trainer Tom Taafe this morning after recovering from a slight setback, is a best-priced 7-1 with Coral and Hills.

Bookmakers agree, however, that the news of Best Mate’s setback is a hammer blow to the sport.