Joseph O’Brien quits riding after ruling Aspen Colorado out of Cheltenham

Dual Irish champion Flat jockey Joseph O’Brien has decided not to ride at all this year and to concentrate on his new role as a trainer.

The move had been widely expected as the record-breaking jockey had been turning his attentions more to the training side and is in the process of taking out a full licence.

O’Brien, 22, has been playing a key role in helping his father, trainer Aidan O’Brien, with a large string of horses recently, including JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Ivanovich Gorbatov, from a base at Piltown, County Kilkenny, where the great Istabraq’s triumphs were originally masterminded.