Kelly retires to start family

RECORD-BREAKING National Hunt jockey Lizzie Kelly has announced her retirement from the saddle as she and her husband are expecting their first child.

Kelly, 27, made turf history by being the first woman to win a Grade One race over jumps with Tea For Two in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton in 2015.

She went on to land a second major success on the same horse, who was trained by her stepfather Nick Williams, in the Betway Bowl at Aintree in April 2017.

In 2018, Kelly claimed her first Cheltenham Festival winner with Coo Star Sivola in the Ultima Chase and enjoyed a second winner there in 2019 on Siruh Du Lac in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase.

“I am announcing my retirement with the news that my husband and I are expecting our first child,” said Kelly. “I will miss riding in races, the weighing room and everyone in it.

Having two Cheltenham Festival winners is definitely something I will remember forever.

“The big winners are an important part of a jockey’s career; it’s what you put all your hard work and efforts into getting. The part of the job I enjoyed the most was riding young horses on their first time on the racetrack and looking after them – I got a real kick out of that.

“I will remain heavily involved in racing and pre-training. The longterm goal is to train, but I am sure there is nothing that will replace riding in races.”