'Looking back, I do quite often pinch myself'

Of course I loved Edredon Bleu as well but it has to be Best Mate because he put me on the map as well as himself by making history with his three Cheltenham Gold Cups, the first horse to do it since Arkle.

I'm such a believer in fate and it was fate with him. Looking back, I do quite often pinch myself: I pinch myself about meeting Terry [Biddlecombe, late husband], I pinch myself buying the horse and pinch myself with the three Gold Cups. But I must put the record straight – everyone always said I hid away during his races but I didn't. I watched every single stride of those Gold Cups in the press tent behind the weighing room!

He was a straightforward horse and very easy to train, a bossy horse, a showoff. He was always beautiful, always an athlete and a wonderful jumper; that was his really strong point. He never made mistakes.