'It's so hard to let go' - popular jockey Mattie Batchelor retires from riding

Popular jockey Mattie Batchelor, who enjoyed his finest moment in the saddle when Carruthers won the 2011 Hennessy Gold Cup, has confirmed his retirement.

Batchelor, 46, rode 200 winners in Britain during a near 30-year career and made the decision to hang up his boots recently when rides in Jersey, where he has predominantly ridden in recent years, began to dry up.

"My licence ran out at the beginning of December and I didn't see much point in renewing it," he said. "I'd still been going over to Jersey – things were going quietly over there as well – but in August I managed to nick a winner at the final meeting.

"The idea was to get a final ride at Plumpton because a few years ago they let me put some of my Mum's ashes on the winning line, so it would have been sentimental, but it didn't come to fruition and my hip is playing me up as well now."

Although unable to end his career on British soil, the jockey was moved when winning aboard Hidden Depths on his final ride at Les Landes in August.

"I was overcome with emotion," Batchelor reflected. "I was surprised by how hard it hit me, to be honest, my daughter was there and deep down I thought it would be my last winner.

"I probably should have given up five or six years ago. For the top boys it's brilliant to go out at the peak of their game but for someone like myself you're always hoping a horse is going to come along and reignite the fire. It's so hard to let go."

Mattie Batchelor: enjoyed his finest hour in the 2011 Hennessy Gold Cup on CarruthersCredit: Edward Whitaker

As well as his association with Carruthers, Batchelor won at the Cheltenham Festival when King Harald cleared away to win the 2005 Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase and he partnered the 2015 Gold Cup winner Coneygree in the early stages of his career.

"I can say I've ridden a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, but not actually in the Cheltenham Gold Cup!" he said.

"Coneygree was in a different league. When I rode him for the first time over hurdles I was so far clear I thought I'd gone a circuit too soon. I've never panicked so much in the final three furlongs of a race!

"Carruthers finished fourth in the Gold Cup, won numerous Grade 2s and was placed in Grade 1s as well, so people remember me through him, and King Harald gave me my festival winner, which was a day I'll never forget."

Batchelor was a well-liked member of the weighing room, renowned for his jokes and storytelling, with one prank in particular standing out.

"A lot of the lads would sit in the sauna and when they used to come out they'd lose about two or three pounds, and an old trick was putting your foot on the scales and they'd turn around and see you," he said.

"I took it a step further and put lead on there, so their first reaction was to look round and see someone's foot was on it – when they saw no one they panicked! I even let a few of them walk back into the sauna. I got called a few names for that."

Mattie Batchelor and King Harald win the 2005 Jewson Novices' Handicap ChaseCredit: Gerry Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The rider, who has had part-time jobs in sales for Chanelle Pharma and at a partition glazing company in recent years, as well as hosting at racecourses, is hoping to secure a more permanent work in the industry but reflects fondly on his time in the saddle.

He added: "For someone like myself, to win at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals and a Hennessy is amazing. I didn't start riding until I was 15 and I was no natural – I was very manufactured – but I wanted to do it.

"This game is about luck and I rode for lots of great people. I look back and I'm immensely proud and hopefully I've made my family proud too."

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