Graham Thorner yesterday became the latest trainer in Britain to announce he is quitting. The former champion jump jockey is giving up the unequal struggle against financial pressures and the virus, 10 days before his 50th birthday.

He emulates the likes of Julie Cecil, Lord Huntingdon and fellow Grand National-winning rider Bob Champion who have each handed in their licences in recent months.

Thorner hopes to remain in racing, having worked in the sport since he joined Tim Forster on leaving school at the age of 15.

He rode 650 winners, including Well To Do in the 1972 Grand National, and was champion jockey in 1970-1.

But he failed to hit the same heights as a trainer, sending out 11 winners in his best season of 1981-2 and none at all since 1997.

"I have fought very hard for a number of seasons - I am a fighter but that's enough," Thorner said.

"I have my other business and that, with hard work, was propping it up. I don't like saying it as it is a loser's line and I don't like making excuses but we had the virus terribly last season and it just got me down so much."