Nina in winning farewell

NINA CARBERRY steered Josies Orders to victory at Punchestown yesterday – and then announced she was quitting the saddle. It came a day after weighing room rival and sister-in-law Katie Walsh revealed she was also bowing out.

Josies Orders, trained by Enda Bolger and sent off the 6-5 favourite, was narrowly beaten in the La Touche Cup two days ago but had no trouble winning the Dooley Insurances Cross Country Chase. Carberry, 33, has been one of the top riders in the amateur ranks for more than a decade, partnering her first Cheltenham Festival winner when Dabiroun took the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle back in 2005.

She went on to ride a further six Festival winners and also claimed the Irish Grand National aboard Organisedconfusion in 2011.

Carberry said: “I think either way I would have stopped today. Today was the day and it was just nice to have Josies to bring me home in front.

“Enda has been a massive supporter of mine and obviously I wouldn’t have had all the Cheltenham winners without him or JP McManus so I’m very grateful. “Obviously Noel Meade is a massive supporter and was very loyal to me the whole time and Gordon Elliott, too. I couldn’t have been here without all them. Gigginstown gave me plenty of winners as well. “I’m sad and I’m happy. I’m sad that it is all finished and I’ll miss the banter but happy there is a new career in front of me.”

Asked about the future, she said: “I’ll continue riding out at Ballyodyle and hopefully buy and sell a few.”