Ford to hand in licence following Lancashire Racing Stables split

Richard Ford will on Thursday send out his last runner before handing in his training licence after leaving his post at Lancashire Racing Stables near Garstang.

Ford had been in the role at Paul Clarkson’s dual-purpose yard since 2012 but with the relationship with his landlord becoming untenable he is in the process of taking a sabbatical to assess his options.

"For various reasons it has become a compromise to produce a horse to the standard I'm happy with," said the trainer.

"I'm going to hand in my licence and take a step back from the coalface for a little while to concentrate on my other interests.

"It might just be a short sabbatical or I might think what have I been doing for the last 30 years. I've been in racing all my life and we'll have to see what comes up in the future."

The former jockey, 50, took out his first licence in 1997 since when he has trained 178 winners over jumps and 66 on the Flat.

His biggest victory came when Forest Gunner won the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock in 2005 before going on to finishing fifth in the Grand National when ridden by Ford's then wife Carrie.

Ford's farewell runner will be Melabi in the 1m4½f handicap (1.50) at Newcastle. With the prospect of no licence-holder at the helm, some of the horses at the stable have already left for other yards including Camillas Wish, a four-time winner during the summer, who made her debut for Micky Hammond this month.

Clarkson said: "We've been with Richard for nearly six years and have had our ups and downs, and I think it's time for us to go our separate ways.

"Melabi will be Richard's last runner from here and then he's planning on handing in his licence.

"My wife Stella Barclay, who has been Richard's assistant, has started the training courses this week with the hope of taking over the licence in the spring."