CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL hero Andrew Lynch has been forced to retire aged 36 after doctors told him he is ‘not allowed’ to ride again.
The jockey, best known for winning 15 races on Sizing Europe, suffered a shoulder injury in February 2019.
Lynch said he has difficulty lifting his arm above his shoulder as a result of the fall at the Dublin Racing Festival.
The Irish jockey rode 20 Grade 1 winners from 2007 to 2015.
He had hopes of returning to the saddle after suffering nerve damage to his shoulder.
Lynch said in January of this year that there was ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ with regards to a comeback.
But he told the Racing Post that specialists were still not happy with his recovery and that has forced him to retire.
Lynch, who won four times at Cheltenham Festival, said: “It’s official now that I’m not going to be allowed back to ride.
“I had been doing everything in my power to return, but the specialists haven’t been happy with the injury.
“I have trouble lifting my arm above my shoulder.
“To be fair to the doctors, they gave me every chance to see if I could come back.
“There are a lot of people worse off than I am and I’ve had a very good career.
“Thankfully I have the horses at home to put my time and effort towards.”
Lynch was famed for his workaholic attitude and commitment to riding.
He had 694 rides during the 2015-16 Irish jumps season – some 257 more than the next most in-demand rider.
In all, he had 513 winners in Ireland and Britain during his 18-year career.
Lynch added: “I was lucky to come across some very good rides for brilliant people from the start.
“I was blessed with the opportunities I got.”
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