Best Mate Out

Best Mate who would have been going for his fourth Gold Cup in a row will have to wait another year. This fantastic specimen of a racehorse has been ruled out of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after breaking a blood vessel on the gallops this morning. Henrietta Knight has confirmed he will not run again this season. She said: "He has broken a blood vessel on the gallops this morning and he will not be running at Cheltenham." "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. "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 beaten on his last start at Leopardstown over Christmas. The Jim Lewis-owned gelding was a distant second to Beef Or Salmon but he was found to be coughing after the race. Knight feels that virus may be responsible for Best Mate's 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." Best Mate became the first horse since Arkle in the 1960s to take three Gold Cup when he was successful at the Festival last year and Robert Alner's Kingscliff is now the 7-2 favourite for the Gold Cup.

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