Best Mate silks sold for charity

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The racing silks worn by the jockey when Best Mate won a third consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cup are being auctioned to raise cash for a Worcester hospice.

The maroon and blue striped silks worn by Jim Culloty during the historic win are expected to fetch up to £5,000.

Also being sold at Sotheby's in London by owner Jim Lewis is a mounted racing shoe worn by the legendary horse, which could fetch a further £3,000.

The cash raised will go to St Richard's Hospice Foundation.

Jim Lewis is a patron of the hospice and has previously sold off memorabilia to raise funds for St Richard's.

He said the newly-built hospice, which has 700 volunteers, costs £2.5m a year to run.

"As part of that effort, I hope these silks will fetch a lot of money," Mr Lewis said.

Henrietta Knight and owner Jim Lewis have signed the racing silks

"The money will be far better spent than me keeping them in a cupboard."

Birmingham-born Lewis, who ran the Silentnight bed company, is a keen Aston Villa fan and modelled the racing colours on the club's 1957 FA Cup-winning strip.

He said the hospice "brings comfort and peace to people who are facing a very hard time".

The silks are signed by Lewis as well as Best Mate trainer Henrietta Knight and assistant trainer Terry Biddlecombe.

The by Graham Budd Auctions will take place on 1 November.