Champion Hurdle winning jockey Dean Gallagher has announced his retirement from the saddle.
Gallagher began his apprenticeship with top Irish trainer Jim Bolger and in 1984 rode his first winner on the Flat, before weights problems saw him make the move to National Hunt.
During his career, the Curragh-born jockey guided Couldn’t Be Better to success in the 1995 Hennessy Gold Cup, although his greatest victory came in 2002 when he was aboard Hors La Loi III in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Injuries, including a broken neck, kept him on the sidelines for a considerable time, while in 2000 he was banned by French racing authorities for five-month as a result of a positive drugs test. In addition he was arrested as part of the police investigations into race-fixing but was never charged with any offence.
"The decision had to come one day and I felt it was time to stand aside. It was a catalogue of things which pushed me to make the decision," Gallagher told the Racing Post.
"The death of Musica Bella in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris made me very sad, and she died in my arms. It was a very tough moment.
"My best souvenir was winning the Champion Hurdle on Hors La Loi at Cheltenham, as every jockey wants to win a big prize at that meeting."
The 40-year-old rode over 500 winners in Britain as well as 126 in France.