RACING: Jamie Spencer revealed yesterday that he had chosen to leave the high-powered Ballydoyle operation to become a freelance for "personal and professional" reasons.

The 24-year-old, whose split with trainer Aidan O'Brien was announced on Sunday, drew a blank at Lingfield yesterday afternoon and intends to try to pick up rides from his old contacts in Britain. "When it came down to it, I had been thinking about it for a while and in the end it was personal and professional things," he said. Peace of mind is a lot in life, no matter how much money you have."

Spencer denied there had been any problems between himself and O'Brien during his one-year tenure, or that high-profile mistakes on such as the disqualified Powerscourt in the Arlington Million had prompted his decision.

"I rode well last season, but every jockey will say they can ride better, even if they won every race in a season," he said. The rider was generous in his praise for major owners John Magnier and Michael Tabor, and added: "To ride for them was great."

Johnny Murtagh is now 5 to 4 favourite to get the job with Cashmans.