Michael O'Leary to quit horse racing: National Hunt team to be phased out over next five years
Grand National-winning owner Michael O'Leary has announced he will phase out his National Hunt team over the next five years.
O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud operation is one of the biggest in the jumping world, with horses such as dual National hero Tiger Roll and Cheltenham Gold Cup winners War Of Attrition and Don Cossack sporting the famous maroon and white silks.
However, O'Leary plans to reduce his interests over the coming years - with the decision not to buy any more young or store horses signalling the beginning of the end for his team, although his colours will be seen for some time yet.
The Ryanair boss said in a statement: "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."
