Cheltenham heroine Spirit Leader retired.

Trainer Jessica Harrington has reported that Spirit Leader has been retired to stud after a racing career which featured big race wins at Sandown, Newbury and Cheltenham.

Described by her trainer as 'a fabulous mare who never stopped improving', Spirit Leader is in-foal to Exit To Nowhere and won´t run again.

During her racing career, Spirit Leader won her bumper at Gowran Park before gained a maiden hurdle win at Punchestown, a win sandwiched between eight runner-up efforts.

However, from December 2002 to March 2003, the mare added the valuable William Hill Handicap Hurdle, Tote Gold Trophy and County Hurdle to her total, a feat which Harrington paid tribute to by mentioning; 'I doubt any horse will match that feat of winning those three big handicaps in one season.'

Harrington added 'it was just a pity that I couldn´t get her right last season.' In her three races last season, Spirit Leader finished sixth in the Bula Hurdle, was second to Golden Cross in the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown before finishing fourth in the AIG Eurpoe Irish Champion Hurdle.