Mate faces tough task at Exeter

Best Mate will face 10 rivals as the triple-Cheltenham Gold Cup winner makes his eagerly-anticipated return to action at Exeter on Tuesday.

The 10-year-old missed a crack at a fourth blue riband when he broke a blood vessel during his last serious piece of work before the Festival and has not raced since finishing second to Beef Or Salmon in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December.