SIR Peter O'Sullevan, the 'Voice of Racing', has led the flood of tributes to Worcestershire's triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate, describing him as "infectiously charismatic".

Callow End owner Jim Lewis' pride and joy collapsed and died on his seasonal reappearance in the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter yesterday.

Sir Peter, who was at Cheltenham to witness Best Mate being roared to his three blue riband successes, said: "He has been a marvellous ambassador for the sport, as have his connections.

"His owner, along with trainer Henrietta Knight and Terry Biddlecombe have handled him marvellously and he was very lucky to have enjoyed his life in such sympathetic hands.

"Without any doubt he had a marvellous life and we are very fortunate to have seen him."

Clare Balding, the leading figure in BBC Sport's racing coverage, believes Best Mate would have been a champion no matter what discipline he had tried his hand.

She said: "I saw him in the paddock before his first Gold Cup when he was a seven-year-old and he just looked magnificent. I have never seen the horse looking anything less than magnificent.

"As well as the beauty of watching him in a race, the beauty of just looking at him as an individual -- he just shone out and would have done so if he had been an eventer or a showjumper."

Channel 4 pundit John McCririck said from Las Vegas: "The memory of his silky fencing and love of attention are what he leaves behind, along with realising we will now never know if even better was to come from everyone's Best Mate."

British Horseracing Board chairman Martin Broughton, who has horses in training with Knight, said: "Best Mate captivated the public with his outstanding Gold Cup treble and the sadness of his death in tragic circumstances will be shared by all racing lovers.

"Jim Lewis, Henrietta Knight and her team gave Best Mate every possible care and comfort during his career and his wonderful achievements will be remembered forever."

Julian Richmond-Watson, senior steward of the Jockey Club, said: "It is rare for a horse to capture the imagination of the public in the way Best Mate did, and his death is a sad loss, not only for his connections but for all of racing.

"His achievements in the sport were outstanding and will live long in the memory of all of us."

Edward Gillespie, managing director of Cheltenham racecourse where Best Mate enjoyed so much success, said: "We are all very shocked here and saddened for everyone in jumps racing.

"Mostly for Henrietta, Terry, Jim and Valerie, who were closest to him, but somehow it is different because Best Mate attracted so many people to pay attention to the sport who would otherwise not even look at the racing pages.

"He had the most impact on the sport of any horse in the last 40 years, there can be no question of that."