Jenks bids his farewell

Shropshire trainer Willie Jenks has saddled his last horse and the long-serving Bridgnorth trainer could not bear to see Muscally bring down the curtain of a distinguished career.The emotion of the moment was too much for him yesterday at Ludlow as Muscally ended the Jenks career in the winner's enclosure - but only taking the place reserved for fourth-placed horses in the Shropshire Hurdle.

It was an emotional day all round for the Jenks family, based at Glazeley, and Willie's wife Caroline said: "Willie decided over the last year that the time was coming. He was getting older and I think he thought he had had a very good run."

"He has been involved in racing for a fair few years and has had a lot of fun. He thought that this autumn would be a good time to stop."

But he will not be lost to racing. Caroline said: "We have some very nice foals and mares at home and we will continue our breeding programme and bringing on our young horses."

And Chairman of the Club Committee, Michael Wiggin said: "It is a sad day because Willie has been part of the furniture for so long at Ludlow.

"But he will be staying with us as a director and we will still be able to call on his knowledge and judgement which is so important."

Jenks's greatest days in racing came with Queen Mother Champion Chaser Pearlyman, a winner three times at the Cheltenham Festival in the late eighties.