Best Mate will be entered in the totesport Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon tomorrow week as Henrietta Knight seeks to cover all options for her triple Gold Cup winner's return to action.
The nine-year-old is due to make his eagerly-awaited reappearance in the William Hill Chase at Exeter next Friday, ground permitting.
"If it remains dry at Exeter, he'll run as planned, but he'll be given an entry in the Peterborough Chase to offer an alternative if it comes up a morass," Knight told the Racing Post.
Best Mate was beaten by ill-fated French raider Jair du Cochet in the Peterborough 12 months ago.
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Tony McCoy is expected to take the ride on Best Mate in the absence of regular partner Jim Culloty, who is on the sidelines with a broken thumb.