Timmy Murphy© Photo Healy Racing
Irish jockey Timmy Murphy (43) has announced his retirement after booting home Happy Escape to win on the flat at Chepstow this evening.
During his lengthy National Hunt career, he won the Aintree Grand National on Comply Or Die in 2008 and had well over 1,000 winners in that sphere.
Murphy said: "That's it, that's the last one now. I'm going out on a winner and I've had a good innings but I'm not made for this game I'm afraid!
"I've been very lucky and rode for some fantastic people - I had Chris Broad my agent who's great and mam and dad, Michael Hourigan and Michael Halford who started it all, Paul Nicholls, Jim Old and the list goes on. Owners like David Johnson and every owner that dared put me up!
"I've had a great time but I think the time has come now. I'm just finding it difficult - this winter was very, very hard losing 10 and 11lbs a day to ride and the driving.
"I've horses at home and a nice business at home and I'm gonna concentrate on that and I'll give Hannons a hand there riding out. I'm a lot happier when I'm not hungry!"
On his more recent career on the flat, he said: "They've (rides on the flat) have been okay but I've never really captured the buzz that I had jumping. I was delighted to be able to do it for two and a bit seasons.
"Jamie Osborne who gave me my first winner (on the flat) was very supportive. The Hannons have been fantastic."
