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CATHY GANNON has ★

finally been forced to announce her retirement.

She has called an end ★

to her gutsy fight to return from a horrendous injury that almost resulted in her losing her left foot.

She said: “It’s very ★

hard but I have to retire. I have to think of my family and look to the future. There are a lot of jockeys forced out far worse than me, so I’m lucky it’s not severe.”

The news brings to an ★

end a career that did much to boost the cause of female jockeys with the talents of Gannon and Hayley Turner shining through in the same era.

She paved the way for ★

Josephine Gordon and co to carry the torch.

Gannon, 35, began her ★

career in 1998 in Ireland, where she was champion apprentice in 2004. She relocated to Britain in 2006 and was to partner 440 career winners, claiming three Lesters as Lady Jockey of the Year, in 2010, 2011 and 2015.

Gannon’s career★

ending injury occurred when she broke all five toes in her left foot in a nasty incident at Lingfield on May 25 last year, when Spring Overture played up in the stalls. She had only just notched her 15th winner of the year on Figurante.

She had originally ★

hoped to be back in time for the Shergar Cup but a string of disappointing updates from her specialist forced a return to be repeatedly pushed back.