Mark Brisbourne 'flabbergasted' by support as he saddles his final runners

Mark Brisbourne described himself as flabbergasted by the response to his departure from the training scene after he saddled his final two runners at Wolverhampton on Monday night.

Brisbourne, who turns 62 later this month, has been forced to quit as Ness Strange Stables, from where he has operated for nearly 30 years, is being sold for a barn conversion by owner the Earl of Bradford.

He said: "I've been flabbergasted by how kind people have been. Becky [daughter and assistant trainer] looks after the social media and there were hundreds of messages.

"At Wolverhampton on Monday, right from the chief executive to the gatemen, everyone was absolutely brilliant. The owners have been so supportive. It's a tough pill to swallow but there's plenty of people worse off than me."

Brisbourne, who took out a training licence in 1991 and sent out more than 550 winners during his career, revealed he has received offers to move to other yards around Britain, but he wants to stay near to his Shropshire roots.

"I'm a bit of a home bird and I'd like to stay close to my home town," he added. "I've had offers in Carlisle, Sussex and Worcestershire but I just haven't got the volume of horses to make it a viable business.

"When you've been somewhere all your life it's tough."

Happily, a home has been found for the dozen horses in Brisbourne's care, including Manfadh and Clive Clifton, who finished fifth and sixth in the same 1m1½f handicap at Wolverhampton on Monday.

"The horses and my daughter Becky are taken care of," Brisbourne added. "They've all gone to Kevin Frost, and Becky has got a job with the yard as well. It's nice the horses have all been kept together."

Rather than take early retirement Brisbourne hopes to continue working within the sport and added: "I'm fit and well and I'll miss the riding as I was riding out right up to Monday. We'll see what comes up."

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