Gold Cup hero Culloty retires

JIM CULLOTY, the man who partnered Best Mate to successive Cheltenham Gold Cup triumphs in 2002, 2003 and 2004, has announced his retirement from the saddle.

The Killarney jockey said last night that health reasons were behind his decision to call time on a career which also saw him land the Martell Grand National on Bindaree.

"I have been thinking about it for some time, basically for health reasons," he said.