Ennis quits saddle to concentrate on Goldolphin travelling role

Ennis, who will travel the world in his new job with Godolphin, retires with the rare accolade of winning or being placed in black-type races on the Flat, over hurdles and over fences, and the enviable record of never having broken a bone his nine-year career.

Ennis said: "It’s been really hard to make this decision because I still love race-riding and haven't lost my bottle or anything but Godolphin have been great supporters and I ride the best horses in the world every week.

"At home I ride Scottish, who won the Strensall Stakes on Saturday, and he goes out for a campaign in Melbourne in a couple of weeks and hopefully I will be on the flight with him."

Ten years ago the 34-year-old from Musselburgh was working as a carpenter, but he decided to chase his childhood dream and eventually joined David Pipe’s yard in Somerset, before moving to former trainer John Ferguson in Newmarket.

He added: "I served my apprenticeship as a carpenter and joiner first but I was sat on the floor of a building site aged 24, dying to be a jockey. I managed to get going and kept kicking all over the country. I’m very fortunate to have won a Midlands Grand National, Summer Hurdle and Elite Hurdle and got black-type on the Flat in Meydan with Empire Storm."

Ennis's Midlands Grand National success came in 2013 on Pipe's Big Occasion, and he won the Summer and Elite Hurdles on Ferguson’s Purple Bay the following year.

The former rider’s association with Godolphin stretches more than 18 months and he has been based with Charlie Appleby in Newmarket since Ferguson gave up his training licence in the spring.

Ennis, whose father was also a rider, said: "I got a job with Godolphin a couple of winters ago and went off to Dubai where I had a couple of spins. I worked for Godolphin last summer and went to John Ferguson in the winter. I’m lucky because I never had a ride on a racecourse until I was 25.

"Losing my 7lb claim at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day last year has to be one of my best moments."