Top jump jockey Tom Scudamore has stunned the sport by announcing his immediate retirement after 25 years in the saddle.
The 40-year-old had been booked on four rides on Saturday but broke the news after being unseated in a race Leicester on Thursday.
Scudamore, son of former champion jockey Peter Scudamore, said in his Coral blog: “I’m going to be 41 in May and the body doesn’t bounce like it used to and that’s the key.
“I feel fine physically so I’m going out on my own terms. I’ve given all I can give, and don’t want to let anybody down.
“I didn’t want to hang on to Cheltenham, or to Aintree, to ride this horse or that horse. I want to ride every horse to the best of my ability, so I feel now is the right time. It’s not a retirement, it’s a change of jobs.”
Scudamore has ridden more than 1,500 winners, and in his most successful campaign in 2014-15 posted 150 winners.
His major wins include the 2016 King George VI Chase on Thistlecrack who also won the Stayers Hurdle the same year.
Scudamore also rode Mighty Thunder to win the Coral Scottish Grand National in 2021 for his father, Peter Scudamore, and his partner Lucinda Russell.
Despite continuing to be successful, in tandem with his main supporter David Pipe, he admitted he was “on the back nine of my career’.
“My grandfather [Grand National-winning jockey Michael Scudamore] had his career taken away from him through no decision of his own, as he had a bad fall, and I didn’t want to be in that position.
“I had a concussion last week, and went to see the doctor, and he said some things that resonated with me. I have a beautiful young family and it’s time to focus more time on them.”
