Shock at O’Leary’s plan to quit racing

Michael O’leary, owner of dual Grand National winner Tiger roll, shocked National hunt racing yesterday by announcing his intention to wind up his operation. O’leary’s Gigginstown house Stud has become a major force in the jumps world with flagship horse Tiger roll enjoying cheltenham Festival success as well as aintree glory. The famous maroon and white silks were also sported by Gold cup winners War Of attrition and Don cossack. however, the decision to scale back the ryanair boss’s interests will happen with immediate effect, with the irish entrepreneur confirming Gigginstown will phase out their Nh team within the next five years and will not be purchasing young talent at the forthcoming store sales. O’leary said: ‘We wish to sincerely thank all our trainers and their teams for the enormous success we’ve enjoyed over the past decade, but as my children are growing into teenagers i am spending more and more of my time at their activities and i have less and less time for National hunt racing, a situation that will continue for the foreseeable future. ‘i hope that by running down our string over an extended four- or five-year period it will give our trainers ample time to replace our horses without disruption.’ Gordon elliott is the trainer worst hit by the news, although 225 individual horses ran in the Gigginstown silks for six different trainers last season, so the disruption will be seismic.