Best Mate was hailed as the 'new Arkle' by West Lockinge trainer Henrietta Knight after he maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a clear-cut victory in the Independent Novices Chase at Cheltenham yesterday, writes Russell Smith.

The five-year-old overcame a mistake at the big ditch four out before going on to slam Fatehalkhair by 18 lengths in the Grade 2 event.

However, it could well have been a lot tougher if Dusk Duel, who was upsides the winner two out, had not slithered to a halt on landing as he appeared to be travelling well at the time.

But the way Best Mate quickened away up the hill under Uffington-based jockey Jim Culloty, it's hard to imagine he wouldn't have gained the day.

As is her habit when one of her stars is running, a nervous Knight didn't watch the race, preferring to stand out by the gates to the car park instead and only allowing herself to open her ears to the racecourse commentary as Best Mate flew the last.

But afterwards the West Lockinge handler, who plans to give Best Mate one more run before returning to Cheltenham for the Arkle Trophy at the Festival in March, spoke in glowing terms of her rising star.

She said: "He does think he is Arkle which is probably a bit of an injustice to Arkle, but he thinks he is another Arkle - a new Arkle.

"He is just a very proud horse. He takes life with such an amazing air. He is a bit special. He is a true athlete. Every part of his body moves when he moves and he has got a wonderful temperament with it.

"If everything held together and we had luck on our side and that is a big point he could go right to the top."

Culloty had little doubt that he would have beaten Dusk Duel had Nicky Henderson's charge not met with his mishap at the second last.

And he added: "He is good at two miles, but he moves like he could turn into a Gold Cup horse."