Best Mate, one of last season`s leading novice hurdlers, makes his chasing debut at Exeter tomorrow.
The Henrietta Knight-trained five-year-old won two of his four starts over timber last term, including the Martell Mersey Novices` Hurdle at Aintree.
He also finished runner-up to Monsignor at Sandown and to Sausalito Bay in the Capel Cure Sharp Supreme Novices` Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Miss Knight`s gelding is sure to be a leading fancy for the Mantech Novices` Chase over an extended 17 furlongs but faces promising stayer Bindaree and useful hurdler Shooting Light among six rivals.
Bindaree has already won over fences this season and therefore has to give 6lb away all round.
