Best Mate begins the defence of his Gold Cup crown at Huntingdon tomorrow.

The superstar chaser, trained by Henrietta Knight, kicks-off his campaign in the £55,000 Peterborough Chase, sponsored by McCallum Corporate Consulting, and National Hunt fans are sure to turn out in their thousands just to see him in action.

The handsome Best Mate, having suffered a narrow defeat in last season's King George V1 Chase at Kempton, made no mistake in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, winning in the style of a horse who could make that prize his own for another year or two.

There is, though, an apparent jinx on Gold Cup horses defending their crown - no horse has managed it since L'Escargot 30 years ago - so history is against Best Mate this season.

He doesn't know that, however, and Jim Culloty's mount will be given a warm reception when he turns up at Huntingdon for his eagerly-awaited reappearance.

Tunstall, trained by Tim Easterby, is my fancy to land the betfair.com Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

A winner on his jumping debut at Wetherby, the three-year-old has since finished a good second in a classy race on the same course. He should go well for Russ Garritty.

Also worth noting at Huntingdon are the consistent Formal Bid (2.05) and previous course winner Suntas (3.40).

The First National Gold Cup Chase is the feature race at Ascot, and Fondmort is napped to take the spoils for Nicky Henderson, whose horses are striking top form.

The mount of Mick Fitzgerald, Fondmort looked a class act over fences last season before his form tailed-off in the spring. The bonus is, that the gelding starts this term on a fair handicap mark, and he is fancied to capitalize in this valuable contest.

Infrasonique will be a popular selection in the Coral.co.uk Handicap Chase.

Lavinia Taylor's strapping gelding, after a fair first run at Wetherby, was just denied by You're A Goodun over this course and distance three weeks ago. He will be hard to beat this time.

The exciting Montreal (3.15) trained by Martin Pipe, and the equally progressive Kalca Mome (3.45) from the Philip Hobbs stable, are also worth attention at Ascot.

Yorkshire racing tomorrow is centred on Catterick, where Gralmano makes his keenly-awaited fencing debut in the Leyburn Novices' Chase.

The seven-year-old proved himself a very talented horse over hurdles last season and was also a winner on the Flat at York this year. He could be a smart recruit to the chasing ranks.

The well-regarded Glenmoss Tara (1.25) and the consistent Tobesure (2.30) also looked to boast favourable chances at Catterick.

Saturday's tips:

Huntingdon

12.30 Veneguera, 1.00 Irish Option, 1.35 Another Raleagh, 2.05 Formal Bid, 2.35 Tunstall, 3.10 Best Mate, 3.40 Suntas.

Ascot

1.10 Young American, 1.40 Infrasonique, 2.10 Fondmort (Nap), 2.45 Nas Na Riogh, 3.15 Montreal, 3.45 Kalca Mome.

Catterick

12.55 Sunridge Fairy, 1.25 Glenmoss Tara, 1.55 Forest Dante, 2.30 Tobesure, 3.00 Gralmano, 3.35 Another Dude.

Lingfield

(televised races)

2.20 Oakley Rambo, 2.50 Beauchamp Pilot, 3.25 McBain.

Updated: 15:34 Friday, November 22, 2002