Best Mate owner Lewis back with hopes of a double

Best Mate died on his seasonal reappearance at Exeter three years ago while being prepared for a fourth Gold Cup triumph, but Lewis, 73, has not given up hope of finding a new Cheltenham hero.

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On Wednesday the avid Aston Villa fan will have an extra bounce in his step as he has two runners with decent chances — Breedsbreeze in the Ballymore Properties Hurdle and Mahonia in the Festival Bumper.

Both horses were acquired from Irishman Liam Burke, via Paul Nicholls, who has taken over from Henrietta Knight as Lewis's trainer.

Knight expressed some dismay three months ago that she was no longer training for the retired Midlands businessman, but he says they remain good friends.

Lewis said: 'Hen still sends me texts, as she did after Breedsbreeze won the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown, signed "love Hen". It's simply the case that Paul offered me these two horses and Hen didn't. I'd have a horse with her tomorrow if she had the right one. I have never fallen out with her.

'Seeing Best Mate's statue is a time for nostalgia and bitter sweet memories for me. I lost Matey and my wife Valerie (to cancer) within weeks of each other.

'Wednesday will be very exciting. Breedsbreeze has an each-way chance in a very competitive race. We've probably got Aigle D'Or to beat and Ruby Walsh rides ours. I'm hoping he will get into the frame.

'Liam Burke says Mahonia (impressive winner of his only bumper) is a better horse than Breedsbreeze. But there are a lot of good Irish horses in his race.

'I'm not a big punter — £100 was my absolute maximum bet on Best Mate. But I've had a little on Breedsbreeze ante-post at 18-1.

'I have also backed Exotic Dancer each way in the Gold Cup at 20-1 just for the value. As regard Paul's big two in that race, I think Kauto Star has improved this year and is better at his fences.

'I'd just give him the edge over Denman and hope that the race lives up to the hype.'

Lewis is hoping to do as well at the Festival as his favourite side are currently doing in the Premier League.

He said: 'Aston Villa are having a good season and if we could only beat those London teams we'd be right up there.

'We were 4-1 up at Spurs but only drew and we were beating Arsenal 1-0 until the 94th minute recently when they equalised. I still go with Doug Ellis (the former Villa chairman) when I can.'

Best Mate's final Gold Cup victory was in 2004, while Edredon Bleu won Lewis a pulsating Queen Mother Champion Chase from Direct Route in a thrilling finish on the Wednesday of the meeting in 2000.

Could this be the year that his famous maroon and pale blue colours are seen again in the hallowed winners' enclosure?