JENNY PITMAN yesterday wished her son Mark well in his new career after his shock announcement that he would no longer work for her.

Pitman, 30, revealed that he is planning to set up in his own right as a trainer after a four year stint as his mother's assistant at Weathercock House, Lambourn.

It had been widely assumed that the former jockey would take over from Jenny, 50, when she retired.

Pitman, speaking on the Racing Channel, said: "With my experience with David Nicholson, Martin Pipe and four years here with my mother I decided it would be best for me to set up on my own. I will be looking for suitable stables."

When he was stable jockey for his mother, Mark won the 1991 Gold Cup on Garrison Savannah and narrowly missed out on a historic double when the horse was pipped by Seagram in the Grand National.