Best Mate, the top steeplechaser in Europe, makes his eagerly-awaited reappearance at Huntingdon tomorrow but could well be defeated.

French raider Jair Du Cochet, one of the novice stars of last season, is my fancy to cause an upset by having the edge over the horse who has won the last two Cheltenham Gold Cups.

Unbeaten in three races last term, a sequence, which started with this corresponding event, Best Mate also added the King George V1 Chase and the Gold Cup to his impressive scoresheet.

Trainer Henrietta Knight, on the mark in the feature race in Ireland yesterday with Edredon Bleu, has stated that Best Mate has the same three targets on his agenda this season. She also reports him to be fine shape for his comeback outing.

Best Mate, the mount of Jim Culloty, will start at cramped odds, and should, in all honesty, win. But on a flat track like Huntingdon, over two and a half miles, a trip short of his best, it would come as no surprise to me to see him beaten.

Jair Du Cochet, a four-times winner last season, is a multi-talented horse, who has the scope to prove a thorn in the side of Best Mate in at least two of his three schedueled outings this term.

Recent winner of a hurdle race, Jair Du Cochet is likely to be fitter than his main rival and, in what promises to be a fascinating contest, I am prepared to nap him to lower Best Mate's colours.

Another highlight at Huntingdon is the Tote-sponsored Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, which offers Howle Hill the chance to bolster his reputation.

Alan King's useful Flat-racer made an impressive winning debut over hurdles at Wetherby three weeks ago and looks a smart recruit to the winter game.

At Ascot, the £60,000 First National Gold Cup Chase takes pride of place, and Farmer Jack, a high-class novice last season, looks to have the right sort of profile for a race of this nature.

A previous winner over this course, he will be perfectly at home over the distance of almost two and a half miles.

Saturday's tips:

Huntingdon

12.15 Kippanour, 12.45 Lord Sam, 1.20 Mount Prague, 1.50 Howle Hill, 2.20 Sharmy, 2.55 Jair Du Cochet (Nap), 3.30 Over Zealous.

Ascot

12.35 Goblet Of Fire, 1.10 Chicago Bulls, 1.40 Kingscliff, 2.10 Farmer Jack, 2.45 Tamarinbleu, 3.20 Jahash, 3.50 Locksmith.

Catterick

12.25 Prince Ajdal, 12.55 Supreme Lass, 1.30 Hunters Creek, 2.00 Dancing Tilly, 2.35 End Of An Error, 3.10 Through The Rye, 3.35 Sir Homo.

Updated: 12:14 Friday, November 21, 2003