Lewis outlines Mate jockey plans
Owner Jim Lewis will seek the best jockey available on the day for Best Mate following the retirement of the triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner’s regular partner Jim Culloty.
Best Mate, trained by Henrietta Knight, is on course to return to action at Exeter on November 1 for the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup after being off the track since last December.
Several leading jump jockeys including Tony McCoy and Timmy Murphy, the only two to have ridden Best Mate apart from Culloty, have been put forward as potential partners for the season, but they have other commitments.
“Timmy and AP have got other contracts and David Johnson has been very good to us over the years with both of them, but obviously he has his own priorities and I understand that,” Lewis told At The Races.
“Tony Dobbin has won a Grand National so he’s no slouch and maybe we would think about Paul Carberry. He would probably ride Beef Or Salmon so I think we will have to go with the best on the day.”
The Exeter contest is over a distance short of Best Mate’s best, about two and a quarter miles, but he did win it four years ago.
It will be a crucial test for the 10-year-old, who missed a crack at a fourth Gold Cup in March when he burst a blood vessel on the gallops.
“Henrietta’s thought was let’s get to the races on the first of November and let’s get the race over with, win lose or draw we will know where we’re going,” Lewis went on.
Should Best Mate prove his well-being in that race then he will be aimed at the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 19, where possible rivals could include last season’s Gold Cup hero Kicking King.
“If that’s a positive then we will obviously go to Haydock for the Betfair race but we have got the Exeter race and if he gets through it I will be happy about that.
“Hen has prepared him just the same as she always does. He’s absolutely bang on schedule for the first race. He’s looking terrific and he’s in great form.
“At the end of the day we can only play with the cards we’re dealt. If it’s a good card on the first of November then all will be well and we will just go on and try to get my fourth Gold Cup back off Kicking King.”
Best Mate is 8-1 with the sponsors for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
