Racing: Jim Culloty takes another

Big-race specialist Jim Culloty won the Irish Grand National on 11-1 chance Timbera for trainer Dessie Hughes today.

English-based Culloty, who has won the last two Cheltenham Gold Cups on Best Mate and the 2002 Aintree Grand National on Bindaree, was having his first ride in the Irish race.

Culloty always had Timbera handy and battled on to beat Knock Knock (20-1) by a head with Winning Dream (9-1) two lengths away in third.

The winner's £74,000 ($212,522) prize was compensation for connections after the 2002 race where Timbera fell at the penultimate fence when contesting the lead.