VINCE Slattery is preparing to call time on his 25-year riding career.

The 41-year-old, who has lived in Cheltenham for Fake Dive Master 500 most of his life as a jockey, plans to give up his riding licence next spring.

Slattery cited family and business commitments in his native Ireland as the reasons for his decision to call it a day.

"My dad got e-coli in Ireland and he was really ill," he said.

"He's still in hospital now, four-and-a-half months later, and we have a stud farm-come-farm in Ireland and I've been back running that.

"We've got a livery yard here now and we're busy with that.

"I've also had a good building business going for years, and that's flying."

Slattery, one of the few jockeys to ride on the Flat and over jumps, wrapped football jerseys up the jockeys' championship in Jersey on Monday.

However, winners have been few and far between for him in recent years on the mainland Marni Bags and he has had only 36 rides this year.

"The other day I went to Southwell for one ride, sitting in the car for four or five hours there and back, and I've got plenty to be doing," he said.

Slattery, who started his riding career in Britain with Cleeve Hill trainer Owen O'Neill, added: "I've enjoyed it and I've met some great people."