Best Mate is already a top-priced 9-4 favourite to land a fourth consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cup next year. The champion horse claimed his third successive win on Thursday to emulate Arkle in a thrilling race, holding off Sir Rembrandt and Harbour Pilot.
Trainer Henrietta Knight confirmed he would be back at Cheltneham: "He's won three Gold Cups and he'll be back to try and make it four.
"Arkle was a great horse and Best Mate is a very good horse," she added.
Ms Knight also rejected suggestions Best Mate should race more regularly.
She said: "Everyone keeps telling me I ought to run him more often, but horses only have limited mileage and you can't go to the well too often.
"Why should we run him in handicaps? What have we got to prove?"
And after a tense finale to Thursday's race, Ms Knight revealed she was delighted it was all over.
"I just feel so drained by it all. The pressure was unbelievable, and now it's over," she said.
Ms Knight also paid tribute to Best Mate's staying power and temperament as well as the skills of jockey Jim Culloty.
"He is such a tough horse, so competitive, and Jim gave him such a tremendous ride. He was a really cool customer out there," she said.
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