Grand National-winning trainer Oliver Sherwood has announced plans to retire and take up a new role in the racing industry.
The Lambourn handler, who sent out popular chaser Many Clouds to win Aintree's big race in 2015, will become Harry Derham's assistant. Sherwood, given the all-clear from cancer last year, feels his business is no longer sustainable.
He also said the death of his friend Richard Aston was a factor in his decision to call time on his lengthy career. Over almost four decades, Sherwood, 68, trained more than 1,300 winners, including six at the Cheltenham Festival.
"It's a combination of a whole heap of things, dwindling numbers is the main thing," Sherwood told Nick Luck's Daily Podcast.
"And losing a very dear friend of mine, Richard Aston of Goldford Stud, who got diagnosed in February and died three months later. That hit me for six."
Sherwood was also left devastated by the loss of Many Clouds, who tragically collapsed after winning the Cotswold Chase for the second time in 2017.
His other top horses included Large Action, Cenkos and Artic Call – and he hopes to take his current thoroughbreds to his next venture.
Later this year Sherwood will begin working for Derham, who started his own business last season after six with champion trainer Paul Nicholls – and is shortly due to move to a new yard near Newbury.
"It's a very tough decision but in a few months' time I'm sure it'll be the right decision," Sherwood added.
"Many Clouds obviously stands out, it's everybody's dream to win a Grand National. But I was very lucky, when I started training in 1984 it was boom-time, you didn't really have to sell yourself.
"As much as I've loved every single minute of it, you've got to realise that life goes by very quickly. You have to look forward in life and not backwards."
