Racing: Culloty banned again for Boxing Day ride on Best Mate

Jim Culloty is to miss the ride on the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, the Henrietta Knight-trained Best Mate in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day after picking up a three-day suspension at Doncaster.

Culloty was found guilty of not riding out Knight's Beechwood for third place in the bumper that closed the card. Beechwood was beaten a short head by Tom Fruit for third.

Culloty was distraught, having missed last year's King George ride on Best Mate through injury, with Tony McCoy riding the gelding into second place. On emerging from the stewards' room, he said: "It's enough to make you cry and I am considering an appeal.

"I will get a copy of a film of the race and speak to Michael Caulfield, of the Jockeys' Association, and do all I can to try and ride in the King George."

Knight said: "I am devastated, and Jim will definitely appeal against the suspension. It is absolutely essential that you have someone who knows the horse so well to ride Best Mate in such a big race.

"Beechwood is a very difficult ride, he hangs like a gate and wears a special bit to try and help the jockey. His owners were delighted with the way he ran and Jim did really well to get him as close as he did. It is so disappointing."

The Jockey Club spokesman, John Maxse, later said that Culloty should have received a seven-day ban. "It was a mistake on the part of the officials at the course that he did not get a longer sentence," he said.

"The offence was treated as one in which he had lost fourth place rather than losing third place. There is a much stiffer penalty for that offence because of the betting implications. Each-way backers of his horse were denied collecting on what was the third-best horse in the race."