Best Mate's owner Jim Lewis confirmed yesterday that his pride and joy will add some extra festive cheer to the Leopardstown Christmas Festival by bidding for a repeat win in the showpiece Lexus Chase.
The triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner landed the Grade One contest in impressive fashion 12 months ago and will head back to the Foxrock track on December 28th rather than Kempton for the King George VI Chase on St Stephen's Day.
Speaking at the launch of the Festival, Lewis, accompanied by his wife Valerie, said: "He will be running at Leopardstown, even if I have to carry him over on my back. I will never forget the reception we had when we won last year and only an absolute monsoon would stop us from wanting to run. "It is a great race and I would love to win it again." Lewis, who drew a roar from the crowd when revealing he owns a Lexus, added: "Henrietta (Knight) tells me he is in great form."
Meanwhile, champion hurdler Hardy Eustace will start back on the road to a Cheltenham defence when he has his first run of the season at Navan on Sunday.
Dessie Hughes' stable star was forced to miss an engagement at Fairyhouse nine days ago after scoping dirty, but the reigning champion was yesterday confirmed on course for the Grade Two Giltspur Scientific Tara Hurdle.
"He schooled this morning and I was very happy with him," said Hughes. "I won't scope him again until Friday before the declarations but the intention is to run at the weekend. He scoped last week and was clean."
The seven-year-old has not been seen since defeating Rooster Booster in the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, which followed his famous triumph over the same rival the previous month.
"I'm sure he'll come on for his first run and it will be nice to see him back on the track - but he won't run unless he is 100 per cent," warned the Co Kildare-based handler. "We are happy with him, though, and I am sure he is alright." Eight horses were entered for the two-and-a-half-mile contest yesterday, including Emotional Moment, Rosaker, Top Strategy and the mare Solerina.
"It looks quite a decent race," said Hughes. "We will have to follow Solerina round and try and keep up with her. We have missed a week and that won't help us but I think he is nearly fit enough and will head to the Bewleys (Festival Hurdle) at Leopardstown over Christmas after the weekend."
Barry Geraghty is the in-form jockey at present and he may have the answer to the Fethard Beginners Chase at Clonmel today on Newmill, a top-class performer over hurdles before his promising fifth behind Like-A-Butterfly over fences at Naas last month.