Paul Cole, perhaps best known for saddling brilliant 1991 Derby winner Generous, has announced he is to retire following 38 years in the training ranks.

The 83-year-old enjoyed over 1,500 winners during a stellar career which began in Wantage in 1987, and later became British Flat champion trainer in 1991.

It was during that same season he saw stable star Generous claim Classic glory at Epsom by five lengths, with Alan Munro aboard. The Fahd Salman-owned colt would go on to complete the English-Irish Derby double at the Curragh and land the King George at Ascot.

Since 2020, Cole has shared the licence with son Oliver, who will now take over the operation at Whatcombe on a full-time basis.

“I looked out at a horse this morning and just thought the time has come for me to retire,” Cole told The Sun.

“I’ve been sharing the licence with my son Oliver since 2020, and I’m just very old now. Oliver knows what he’s doing and is more than capable.”

Oliver Cole described his father as a “real legend”.

“He’s a hell of a legend and has done it from scratch,” said Cole.

“He came from a golden era of trainers and was able to hold his own amongst them and was even champion in 1991.

“In his heyday when he had all of those good horses, he was leading trainer at Royal Ascot in 1994 with four winners and he trained one of the best horses ever in Generous with the way he was destroying those fields.

“He also had some amazing two-year-olds in Dilum and Strategic Prince and horses like Culture Vulture and Mr Dinos. He had the backing of some great owners along the way who enjoyed themselves and he’s a real legend.”

Since 2020, the Coles have shared the licence, enjoying Royal Ascot glory with Highland Chief in 2020 and also thriving with the high-class Royal Scotsman.

Oliver will now take over the operation at Whatcombe on a full-time basis, a privilege he puts firmly down to his father’s influence and success.

“We’re very lucky to be training at Whatcombe, it’s an amazing facility and it’s an honour to be on the licence, if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here,” he added.

“It’s gone very well as a pair, but now it’s down to me to just keep the show on the road. He won’t be going anywhere, he’s a great man to work with and great for advice, we’ll keep kicking.

“I’ll discuss with him when things formally hand over, but I imagine it will be pretty soon.”