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Sue Smith sad Grand National winning jockey Ryan Mania has retired

Image: Ryan Mania: Decided to quit the saddle with immediate effect

Sue Smith has expressed her sadness at losing stable jockey Ryan Mania, who has taken the surprise decision to quit the saddle with immediate effect.

Mania, who won the Grand National on 66-1 shot Auroras Encore for the Bingley trainer in April 2013, announced on Tuesday he was giving up riding after struggling with his weight.

"It was a bit of a shock. He said his weight was causing him a severe issue now and he decided to call it a day," said Smith. He rode very well, he was a good jockey and obviously we're sad to lose him."

Champion jump jockey Tony McCoy said Mania's decision to call it a day caught him by surprise.

"It was very much a shock, but I knew he was having problems with his weight," he told Sky Sports News.

"Obviously there is a lot of travelling involved. It's tough and it's financially tough for a lot of lads as well. I wish him the best of luck for the future."

The 2013-14 campaign was Mania's best numerically as he had 53 winners while his tally this season stood at 14.

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Just 24 hours after his Aintree triumph, Mania sustained a neck injury in a crashing fall at Hexham and was airlifted to hospital.

His biggest win since Auroras Encore came on the Sandy Thomson-trained Seeyouatmidnight back at Aintree this April.

His final rides were at Haydock on Saturday and his last winner was Seldom Inn at Newcastle on November 14.

Mania will time off before making future plans, but could be given a role with Berwickshire trainer Sandy Thomson.

He told Betfred TV: "There's quite a few things I'd like to try, something in the media, or I might stay in racing and see.

"There's always a chance of being assistant trainer to Sandy Thomson.

"I'm making no immediate decisions. I'd like to take a couple of months to experience new things, live life a bit and you never know what's going to pop up next."

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