Sean Curran is to take a break from racing after deciding to quit training at Hatford, near Stanford in the Vale.

The 39-year-old, who saddled Iris de Balme to win the 2008 Scottish National at 66-1, has decided not to renew his licence at the end of the month after becoming “tired of working all day”.

Curran, who switched straight to training from being a jockey, sent out his last runner when Smoking finished unplaced at Wincanton on Saturday.

“I have got fed up of it,” he said. “I have been doing it too long and just need a break from it.

“I am not saying I am retiring from it, but taking time out.

“My heart isn’t in it. I was just not enjoying it whether the horse won or lost. I was not getting a kick out of it.

“I left race-riding and went training. I never had time to think and just relax and see a bit of the world.

“I am going to South Africa on January 21 to see a few friends and I might come back for a little bit and then go down to Australia.”

Curran, who has sent out almost 50 winners since starting training in 2006, added: “The main problem is the prize money – it is terrible,” .

But he looks back on the success of Iris de Balme, who is back in pre-training, with fond memories.

The 11-year-old is owned by former Norwich City and Republic of Ireland footballer Lee Power, who has moved from Brize Norton to Geneva.

“It was just the highlight of my career and Lee as an ex-professional footballer has done a lot of things, and it bypassed all the things he had done in football,” he said.

“But then you are 24/7 and I have just got tired of it to be truthful.”