I've not retired, insists trainer

Shropshire's Grand National hero Steve Brookshaw has admitted he currently has no horses in training - but insisted: "I haven't retired."

The Shropshire handler, who was based at Bolas near Telford and famously sent Lord Gyllene to victory in the 1997 Aintree marathon, has relinquished his licence and vacated his yard - but has no plans to leave the sport.

At the moment, he is breaking in horses for a training establishment and a stud farm and he said today: "I had to stop training because I had no horses to train.

"Like everyone, else, I have been hit by the credit crunch.

"One of my owners is in the building trade and he has had to cut back because of the current situation.

"If I have the chance of training again, then I will do so."

But he denied rumours that he would helping his daughter Heidi in training point-to-pointers.

Brookshaw surrendered his licence on August 22 and has not sent out a runner since The Sneakster won at Cartmel in May.

He has been doing freelance work breaking in horses for two breeding operations

Brookshaw has a remarkable record in National Hunt racing in that he has sent out winners over the Grand National fences on three occasions, Lord Gyllene in the National which was delayed by 48 hours due to a bomb scare, Rolling Ball in the Foxhunters and Listen Timmy in the John Hughes Chase.

All carried the colours of the late Sir Stan Clark and his widow Hilda.

By Bob Downing