RACING: Adrian Maguire, one of the finest riders never to win the jump jockeys' championship, has retired on medical grounds.

Maguire, who is recovering from a broken neck, said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that on medical advice I will not be returning to riding. I have received a report from the Jockey Club's independent neurological and spinal surgeon, Professor Peter Hamlyn, who examined scans taken recently of my injured neck."

Maguire, who suffered his injury in a fall from Luzcadou at Warwick in March, added: "I have discussed the medical reports with the Jockey Club's chief medical adviser, Dr Michael Turner, who has explained that under no circumstances would he be able to pass me fit to ride again.

"With the hazardous nature of jump racing, I have to accept that resuming my career is no longer an option.

"I have enjoyed a fantastic career as a jump jockey and I never wanted this day to come. I have no immediate plans and I will take all the time available to discuss things with my family over the coming weeks and months."

Maguire first shot to fame in Britain in 1991 when, as an amateur, he won the Kim Muir Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on Omerta, and then followed up by landing the Irish Grand National on the same horse.

His most famous victory came the following year when he gave Cool Ground a tremendous ride to win the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

A jockeys' title looked certain to follow, but Maguire was plagued with injuries. Bad luck dealt him his final blow when, after winning the King George VI Chase at Kempton last December and looking forward to the big Cheltenham meeting, he broke his neck in a fall at Warwick in March which meant he missed the Festival for the fourth time in eight years.

All the top trainers were keen to secure his services, and champion jockey Tony McCoy rated Maguire as one of the best he has ridden against.

Trainer Ferdy Murphy led the tributes to his stable jockey, saying: "It's a shame, but I suppose at the same time it's great that Adrian has gone out in one piece.

"We go back a lot of years and he's ridden some great races for us and some lovely horses. Basically, he had everything you wanted in a stable jockey. He was a great horseman; a great jockey and a nice fella."

Florida Pearl's trainer Willie Mullins was surprised to hear the news, but said: "It must have been a hard decision for him to make because he seemed to enjoy and like riding so much and he was one of the best jockeys of his generation.

"He gave our horse a fantastic ride on the day, an inspired ride I would say. He just seemed to be part of his horse, him and the horse were just one unit.

"He got the most out of his horses and he really got them jumping well and for any young fellow starting out riding he was always one to watch.

"We have to wish him well with whatever he wants to do in the future. I'm sure he'll be missed by the team of riders. But at least he can walk away and is young enough to take up another walk of life."

Tony McCoy was also shocked: "It's horrific news. I said when I broke Richard Dunwoody's record that along with Richard Dunwoody, Adrian Maguire and Charlie Swan were the best jockeys I've ridden against. And I still think that of Adrian Maguire. He was brilliant, very natural."