Best Mate

Best Mate had the distinction of being just the fourth horse in history, and the first since the legendary Arkle, in 1966, to complete a hat-trick in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Owned by the late Jim Lewis, in whose beloved claret and blue colours he raced, and trained by Henrietta Knight in West Lockinge, Oxfordshire, Best Mate made his first appearance in the ‘Blue Riband’ event, as a seven-year-old, in 2002. Ridden by Jim Culloty and sent off 7/1 third-favourite after finishing a close second in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, the son of Un Desperado quickened clear approaching the final fence and ran on well to beat Commanche Court and See More Business by a length and three-quarters and eight lengths.

The following December, Best Mate went one better in the King George VI Chase, justifying favouritism, albeit all out, at the expense at Marlborough. Back at Cheltenham for his second attempt in the Gold Cup, again ridden by Jim Culloty, he made short work of 14 rivals, going clear approaching the second-last fence to win, easily, by 10 lengths. In so doing he became the first horse since L’Escargot, in 1971, to win back-to-back renewals of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Best Mate was beaten, at odds-on, on his reappearance in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon in November 2003, but resumed winning ways with an impressive, nine-length victory in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown the following month. Consequently, he was sent off at odds-on for his hat-trick attempt in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and, although he had to work harder than in previous years, he was ultimately driven out to beat the relatively-unfancied pair Sir Rembrandt and Harbour Pilot by half a length and a length and a quarter.

Tragically, having missed the 2005 renewal of the Cheltenham Gold with a broken blood vessel, Best Mate was pulled up on his reappearance in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter the following November and suffered a fatal heart attack. Knight, who witnessed his demise, said afterwards, “When it all happened and unveiled before my eyes there was just this dreadful, empty, sinking feeling.”