WORCESTERSHIRE'S favourite racehorse galloped into Gold Cup folklore with an emphatic victory at Cheltenham yesterday.

Best Mate became the first horse since L'Escargot in 1971 to take back-to-back victories and one of racing's most coveted trophies - to the delight of his owner, Jim Lewis, of Callow End, near Malvern.

The eight-year-old bay, ridden by Irishman Jim Culloty, blew away the rest of the field in epic style.

Then Mr Lewis and many of his supporters headed back to the village's Old Bush pub to toast the feat.

The victory may have been welcomed by most racing fans, but Worcester's bookmakers had mixed feelings.

Some were delighted but, where Best Mate had been heavily backed, others were left licking their wounds.

Toast of the village

BEST Mate was the toast of Callow End last night after his second successive win in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The popular horse romped to an emphatic victory in Gloucestershire yesterday, prompting favourable comparisons with legends such as Desert Orchid and Arkle.

He became only the sixth horse in Gold Cup history to win the top race twice, and the third to win the King George and Gold Cup in the same season.

Callow End owner Jim Lewis watched the action dressed in Aston Villa's claret and blue, accompanied by his wife Valerie and his brother Norman.

He was also joined by many racing fans from Worcestershire, particularly friends from Callow End.

Exhausted from the tension of Best Mate's thrilling race from seventh place to clear victory, Mr Lewis said he was "delighted and surprised" by his horse's remarkable performance.

"It's one of the proudest moments of my life," he told the Evening News.

"Almost everyone at Cheltenham thought he was going to win, but I was just saying my prayers!"

He said he struggled to see the action and relied on a friend to tell him what was happening.

"It wasn't good for the heart," he said.

"But it would be nice if he did it again next year."

Mr Lewis headed for The Old Bush in Callow End after the race, where he was given a hero's welcome by locals.

Landlady Jo Letties said the pub was fairly quiet during the race because many people from the area had gone to Cheltenham to watch the event, but she was expecting a large crowd for last night's celebrations.

"There weren't too many of us here, but there was still a good atmosphere here," she said.

"We had no doubt he was going to win."

Worcester's bookmakers experienced contrasting fortunes on one of the biggest betting days of the year.

For Colin Francis, of Newtown Racing in Wells Road, the result could not have been worse.

Despite short odds, many of Mr Francis' customers were undeterred and backed Best Mate.

"It's been a bad day for me," he said.

"It was a nightmare, but we'll just have to take it on the chin."

He refused to say how much money he had lost, but he congratulated Mr Lewis.

"He's very good for racing," he said.

"He's like our own David Beckham!"

But David Janez, of DNG Racing, Grenville Road, Dines Green, was delighted with the result.

"The price was too short for a lot of punters, and a lot went for each way alternatives.

"A lot of people went for other popular horses, but the second and third-placed horses were outsiders.

"To see a good horse like that win was great."