Donnacha O'Brien to concentrate on quality rather than quantity in Flat venture

Donnacha O'Brien has explained "there was never going to be a good time" to step away from race-riding as the dual champion jockey concentrates his attentions on his fledgling training venture.

O'Brien was speaking after making his decision known on social media on Sunday night. Just over five years after riding his first winner aboard Quartz for his father Aidan at Dundalk, during which time he amassed ten Group 1 victories including four Classics, the towering 21-year-old's whirlwind career has effectively been brought to an end by an unsustainable battle with the scales.

"It was never going to be a long-term plan," he said of his riding career. "There was never going to be a good time to step away as there were always going to be good horses and big races to look forward to. Now was going to be as good a time as any."