'He has paid a lot of bills for us' - God's Own retired after banking £625,000

God's Own, who was transformed from a "wayward" youngster to a three-time Grade 1-winning chaser, has run his last race.

The 11-year-old, who gained his biggest victory in the Melling Chase at Aintree in 2016, will spend his retirement with Sherrie-Ann Derrick, who has ridden him out every day since he joined Tom George at the age of four.

Watch God's Own win the Melling Chase

"It's good news that he's retiring in one piece," the trainer said. "There are few opportunities for him and it's unfair to keep him going for one or two races in the spring.

"In the last few years he's been having to run on desperate ground in the spring, which he hasn't liked. He's had to learn to cope with it but it's unfair to keep on making him do it."

God's Own (left) on the way to his eighth and final career win in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter in 2018Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

God's Own, who earned more than £625,000 in total prize-money, was bought for just £62,000 and George added: "He was a very wayward four-year-old and even today he comes out of his stable every morning bucking and kicking – he's got unbelievable enthusiasm.

"He's taken a lot of taming and there are only two or three people in the yard who can ride him.

"He's had a lot of aches and pains through the years and Buffy Shirley-Beavan has done a great job to keep the wheels on.

"He's had a lot of big days but his first Grade 1 win at Punchestown was great and winning a second Haldon Gold Cup, four years after his first, was special. He's been unbelievable and has paid a lot of bills for us all the way through."

God's Own is by Oscar, George's favourite sire, as is stablemate Clondaw Castle, who will bid for a poignant victory in Saturday's Caspar Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Caspian Caviar Gold Cup card and betting

"He's in good form, it's sponsored by a good friend in memory of his late wife and we've had this race in mind for a long time," the trainer said. "Let's hope it goes right."

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