Dwyer decides to retire

Mark Dwyer, the dual Gold Cupwinning jockey, has announced his retirement from the saddle after spending a year on the sidelines.

The 34-year-old Irishman, who partnered more than 800 winners, suffered a compound fracture of his left elbow in a fall from In Good Faith at Kelso last December and, despite two operations and numerous hours of physiotherapy since, his arm is still not right.

Dwyer met Dr Michael Turner, the Jockey Club's chief medical advisor, yesterday and said afterwards: "That is it, I have packed up. Basically, I am fit enough to ride but not fit enough to fall - that is the top and bottom of it. And you cannot carry on like that."

Dwyer, who rode his first winner Colneagh Emperior at Limerick in 1979, went on to become a leading apprentice on the Flat in this country under the watchful eye of his boss Liam Browne before increasing weight forced him to turn to jumps.

Reflecting on his distinguished career, Dwyer said: "With the Gold Cups, the Champion Hurdle, the Irish Gold Cups and the Scottish Nationals, it is difficult to single out one moment as being better than all the rest. I just feel I have been incredibly lucky doing a job I love for so long."