Horse racing: Hills to quit saddle next month

Richard Hills has announced that he will retire from race-riding next month after a career spanning 33 years.

Hills, retained first jockey to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum since 1997, is to hang up his saddle for the last time on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on 31 March.

The 49-year-old said in a statement: “It has been my privilege to ride for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum as first jockey for the last 15 years and previously as second jockey to W [Willie] Carson for two years. No jockey could have ridden for a more loyal and supportive owner.”

Hills rode five British Classic winners for Sheikh Hamdan, taking the 1000 Guineas on Harayir (1995), Lahan (2000) and Ghanaati (2009). He won the 2000 Guineas on Haafhd in 2004 and the Oaks on the Michael Jarvis-trained Eswarah in 2005. He landed the first of more than 1,840 domestic winners on Border Dawn at Doncaster in October 1979. It is believed Hills will continue to work for Sheikh Hamdan in another capacity on retirement.

Tadhg O’Shea, the current No 2 for Sheikh Hamdan, has been installed a short-priced favourite to take over from Hills in the top berth.