CAUSE OF CAUSES, a three-time Cheltenham Festival winner and runner-up in last year's Randox Health Grand National, has been retired.

The decision to call time on the Gordon Elliott-trained 10-year-old's career came on the back of a disappointing performance in last month's Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase, which he previously won in 2017.

His other two victories at Cheltenham came in the National Hunt Chase in 2015 and the Kim Muir Handicap Chase in 2016, while he competed at the last six Festivals.

"He came back a little bit sore from Cheltenham and he's been such a good servant we thought we'd retire him," said Frank Berry, racing manager for owner J.P. McManus.

"To compete at six Festivals in a row is unbelievable.

"He was a very sound horse and ran some terrific races in between going to Cheltenham. It's hard to find one like him."

Cause Of Causes won nine of his 43 starts and will spend his retirement at McManus's Martinstown Stud in Co Limerick.