Henrietta Knight unleashed ambitious plans for her stable star Best Mate after he maintained a 100 per cent record over fences in the Grade Two Independent Novices Chase at Cheltenham yesterday. "His target for this season will be the Arkle Trophy back here in March and then the Gold Cup the following year," revealed Knight after the five-year-old had overcome a bad blunder four out to beat Fatehalkhair easily.
However, it could well have been a lot tighter at the line if Dusk Duel, who was upsides the winner two out, had not slithered to a halt on landing following a mistake, for he appeared to be travelling well.
But Knight remained bullish about Best Mate all the same saying: "If everything comes together for this horse he will go right to the top as he is about the best I have trained. Jim (Culloty) actually said that the mistake at the top of the hill did him a bit of good as he learned from it.
"I will talk to his owner Jim Lewis but there is every chance he could have just one more run before the Festival and I have no worries about ground or distance with him as he will go on anything," she added.
Dusk Duel's rider Norman Williamson considered his mount may have been slightly unlucky. He said: "He was going very well when he slipped on landing and I am not saying he would have won but it could have been close. He's a very nice horse."
Davids Lad gave Conor O'Dwyer an armchair ride to win the Food Brokers Handicap Chase on the bridle by five lengths from Flaxley Wood.
The gelding was always travelling in silky smooth fashion before jumping to the front at the final fence. His trainer, Tony Martin, was following up Hidden Ability's victory on Saturday.
There was another Irish-trained winner on Saturday's card when Foxchapel King, who was later slashed to 7 to 1 from 33 to 1 for the Hennessy Gold Cup in a fortnight's time, turned the £50,000 Intervet Trophy Handicap Chase into a one-horse show.
Mouse Morris' charge made eye-catching headway approaching the fourth last fence in the hands of Shay Barry before smoothly jumping to the head of affairs two out and beating Earthmover by eight lengths.
Morris was bullish about the horse's chances in the Newbury showpiece, saying: "The Hennessy has to be on the cards after that and he will be back over for that race now.
"He's done everything right today as he's jumped so well and Shay has given him a great ride. He's a very good horse and he could be quite well-handicapped on his second to Commanche Court in the Irish National last April.
"I've trained the second and third in the Hennessy in the past with the likes of Cahervillahow so maybe this will be my year, that will be the plan in any case," added the trainer.
