RACING silks worn by top jockey Jim Culloty when riding Best Mate to victory in his third Cheltenham Gold Cup, fetched £4,000 at auction.

The racing silks were put up for auction by Callow End-based Jim Lewis, owner of the legendary champion racehorse, to raise money for St Richard's Hospice.

The sale at Sothebys, London, on Wednesday, sparked nationwide interest resulting in the winning bid from an un-named buyer.

St Richard's Hospice fund-raising manager Tricia Cavell said: "This was a very generous gesture of Jim's to donate such precious items to the hospice for auction. We were absolutely thrilled the silks went under the hammer for £4,000. That money can now help towards funding our care for patients and families living with cancer and other life-threatening illness."

Also up for auction was Best Mate's horse shoe - first over the line at his historic Gold Cup win. The shoe did not reach the reserve price and is expected to be sold privately within the next few weeks, raising more funds for the hospice.

Jim Lewis is a long standing supporter and patron of the hospice, which now has a Best Mate room where children receive counselling. The room in the new hospice was built with money raised from the sale of Best Mate merchandise during the life of the racing icon, and in his memory following his death last year.