Knight steps up Mate security
Henrietta Knight has put a stringent security plan in place which means Best Mate will receive 24-hour protection in the run-up to his bid to win a fourth Gold Cup on Friday week.
Following the pattern set down for each of his previous triumphs in chasing’s blue riband, Knight will utilise CCTV cameras at her West Lockinge stables.
She said: “The cameras are already in place and are about to be reactivated so that we can keep an eye on Matey 24 hours round the clock, and I’ve also appointed a night watchman to patrol the yard.
“The security measures have worked well over the past three years and Cheltenham are very good in that sense when he gets to the course on Gold Cup day.
“Last season five security men walked with him from the stables to the saddling boxes, which was filmed by Channel 4, and I understand there will be a similar procedure this time.”
Knight expressed her delight at the way Best Mate went in a gallop with Impek at West Ilsley last Thursday.
She added: “It happened in a snowstorm and Impek was quite naughty to start with, but they went a steady seven furlongs uphill on the grass and I was very pleased with the way he went.
“He’ll go back to Mick Channon’s for one more workout, which will complete his preparation.”
Knight is perplexed about varying weather forecasts for the next week.
Hoping for a dry period and warmer weather, she said: “The weather is still quite cold, although he went out into the field this morning for a couple of hours and was not ridden. The forecast suggests it could stay quite cold and frosty, which was not exactly what the first forecast I heard was.”
