Champ and Emily Moon to evoke memories of legendary relation Best Mate

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Best Mate completing his hat-trick of Cheltenham Gold Cup victories, one year before his untimely death.

The legendary chaser may be gone but he is far from forgotten and several runners at this year's festival will give cause to remember him as they have close family ties.

Challow Novices' Hurdle winner Champ, ante-post favourite for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, is by King's Theatre out of China Sky, a Definite Article half-sister to Best Mate.

Meanwhile Emily Moon, the 14-length winner of a 25-runner Naas maiden hurdle last month, is a lively outsider for the National Hunt Breeders Supported by Tattersalls Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

She is by Beneficial out of the Definite Article mare Wood Lily, who in turn is out of Sidalcea, a winning Oscar half-sister to Best Mate and China Sky.

Champ and Emily Moon were bred by Philip and Jane Myerscough, with Emily Moon carrying their silks.

The breeders owned Best Mate's dam Katday, who also produced Challow Novices' Hurdle winner Cornish Rebel and dual Grade 3 scorer Inexorable, until her death at the grand old age of 28 in 2015.