Jockey Mooney hangs up boots after struggling to make ends meet

Danielle Mooney is set to have her final ride at Catterick on Tuesday after failing to earn a living out of her career since her apprenticeship ended earlier this year.

The 26-year-old will partner the James Ewart-trained Glimer in a 6f handicap (3.35) before switching her attention full time to riding out for Mark Johnston.

"I don't want to give up, I really don't, but when you're not making a living from something you have to have a think and I've decided it's time to hang up my boots," said Mooney on Monday.

"I was working for Dandy Nicholls right up until the end, which was also the end of my apprenticeship. I tried to give it a go on my own, riding out for various trainers, but things haven't worked out as I hoped."

A stint in Australia

Mooney has partnered 12 winners, having ridden for the first time in 2008, and also enjoyed a stint in Australia with Robert Smerdon in Melbourne, where she said she improved her knowledge of timing in a race.

After returning to Britain in 2009, she worked for Nigel Tinkler, Michael Easterby and finally Nicholls, with Easterby having provided the bulk of her rides and winners. Her best year in terms of winners came last year, with six.

When asked to nominate a favourite memory, Mooney recalled Itlaaq, who won for her at Thirsk and Doncaster, with the performance at Doncaster, when scoring a 16-1 victory in June 2016, the highlight.

Out of the saddle, she trained her collie Beau to win Beverley's charity Bark De Triomphe dog race in August.

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