Jim Culloty doubled his Cheltenham Festival tally with the biggest win of his career.

The 28-year-old claimed victory in the Gold Cup in partnership with the Henrietta Knight trained Best Mate.

After a composed and ultimately dominant win, punters are already predicting that the pair could dominate the race for years to come.

Culloty came to the fore at the Festival when he guided Lord Noelie to victory in the Royal and SunAlliance Chase in 2000.

He teamed up with Knight after a stuttering start to his jumping career.

The Killarney-born Culloty moved to England as an 18-year-old after riding point-to-point in Ireland.

He continued riding point-to-point for two years under the guidance of Jackie Wing, but his future looked bleak when the stables were struck down by a virus.

But after the doubts - he never thought that he would make the grade as a jockey - and the downs, came a change in fortune.

Leading jockey Mick Fitzgerald pointed him in the direction of Knight and his chance to impress came sooner than expected when Jason Titley was injured.

In his first year riding out of the West Lockinge Farm stables in Wantage, Culloty took the amateur championship.

Six years on, he is making headlines in the professional ranks.