The final curtain falls for the singing jockey Ryan Winks

Singing jockey Ryan Winks, who found fame after serenading the crowd after a win at Musselburgh three years ago, has been forced to quit race-riding due to injury.

The jumps jockey, who was also a part-time singer in his younger days, broke his back in two places and suffered damage to his neck in a horror fall at Sedgefield in October that had doctors saying he was lucky not to be in a wheelchair.

He had surgery to insert two rods, two plates and screws into his back and subsequently underwent physiotherapy, acupuncture and hydrotherapy at Jack Berry House in Malton, but five months after his fall he has finally had to give up hopes of a return to the saddle.

"It's not ideal but it comes to us all in the end," said Winks, 38. "I was trying to get back but it's not good when I have impact on my back and my breathing's not very clever.

"I don't even need a bad fall for it to recur in a bad way. It's a hell of a blow but I'm taking advice from the surgeons – if you have a fall at speed you'll have a good chance of being in a wheelchair."

Winks will be best remembered for his victory on Chestnut Ben for his father in the Scottish Champion Chase at Musselburgh in 2016.

To celebrate the biggest success of his career, he took presenter Derek Thompson's microphone in the winner's enclosure and belted out 'We Are The Champions'.

Watch Ryan Winks winning on Chestnut Ben at Musselburgh

That was one of 27 winners Winks rode under rules, having started out in Arab racing. He had two rides on the Flat as an apprentice with Les Eyre before progressing to point-to-points and National Hunt racing.

"I first started riding in 1995 or 1996, so I've had a long time at it and I won a few races on Chestnut Ben," Winks reflected.

Winks pays tribute to old stalwart Chestnut Ben after bringing career to a close

"I'm looking to get into training. I want to set up on my own and I just need to get a bit of backing. I can guarantee them a great time and some good winners, and it's a good age to start training rather than leaving it too late."

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