Best Mate back to form in Ireland
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Best Mate and Jim Culloty are hot favourites for a third Gold Cup win after victory in Ireland
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DUBLIN, Ireland -- Dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate returned to form in style in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Ridden by Jim Culloty, the 8-11 favourite came home nine lengths clear of Le Coudray (14-1) with top Irish chaser Beef Or Salmon (2-1) back in third place.
The win completed an outstanding weekend for Culloty, trainer Henrietta Knight and owner Jim Lewis, who teamed up with Edredon Bleu to cause a 25-1 shock in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Friday.
Edredon Bleu was substituting for Best Mate, who was diverted to Ireland after Knight decided ground conditions would be more in his favour at Leopardstown.
The decision was justified on Sunday as Best Mate firmly put behind him a defeat by French ace Jair du Cochet in a race at Huntingdon in November.
Bookmakers reacted to the Leopardstown victory by shortening Best Mate from 7-4 to even money favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March. Beef or Salmon has drifted from 7-1 to 12-1.
