Multiple Group 1-winning rider Pat Smullen has announced his retirement from the saddle.

The nine-time champion jockey was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March last year and has been undergoing treatment.

While his progress remains positive, he said in his weekly column for thoroughbreddailynews.com: “I have had a frank discussion with my doctors and I gave them the full details of the way of life of a jockey, and what I’d have to go through to get back to full fitness, to get back to the weight that I need to be, and to compete at the level I want to compete at.

“They advised me that I should not compromise my immune system in any way. So, taking that into account, the right thing for me to do is to call it a day.

“I’ve been very fortunate through my career to meet some great people and to ride some very good horses.

“I have a lot of cherished memories of a great career, and I’m very thankful for that. Now it’s the second chapter of my life. I think everyone has gathered by now that horses are everything in my life.

“I know nothing else and I’m determined that I’ll still work within the industry and, hopefully, I can be of some benefit.”

Smullen began his career as a jockey as an apprentice to Offaly trainer Tom Lacy. His first ride was on Power Mount, whom he finished ninth on at Listowel in September 1992. His first winner came on Vicosa, who was trained by Lacy, in June 1993, in an apprentice handicap at the old Dundalk.

Riding mainly for John Oxx and Tommy Stack, Smullen was champion apprentice in 1995 and 1996 and rode his first group winner in the CL Weld Park Stakes in 1996, Token Gesture for Dermot Weld. He only had to wait another season to secure his first Group 1 winner - Stack’s Tarascon in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

In 1999 he joined forces with Dermot Weld and the pair have been together since, combining for multiple big-race success all over the world. Among many notable winners were: Refuse To Bend (2003 Guineas), Rite Of Passage (2010 Ascot Gold Cup), Dress To Thrill (2002 Matriarch Stakes - Arlington Park, a first winner for Smullen in America), Grey Swallow (2004 Irish Derby), Fascinating Rock (2015 Champion Stakes) and Harzand (2016 Derby and Irish Derby).

Vinnie Roe was a hugely popular stayer Weld and Smullen combined with. He won four Irish St Legers and went close in a pair of Melbourne Cups (fourth to the same stable’s Media Puzzle in 2002 and then second to the brilliant Makybe Diva in 2004).

On a smaller scale, Weld and Smullen were synonymous with success at the Galway Festival up until recent seasons. Smullen also became a go-to big-race jockey for British trainers such as Sir Michael Stoute and Hugo Palmer, with whom who combined to win the 2015 Irish Oaks on Covert Love, his last classic winner.

Smullen recorded his final career winner on the prolific Togoville at Dundalk on March 16th last year. He rode 1892 winners in total in Ireland and Britain.