Nine-time Irish champion jockey Pat Smullenโs career is on hold after he was diagnosed with a tumour.
The 40-year-old stable jockey for Dermot Weld said in a statement he was focused on overcoming his illness.
โMost people will have been aware that I have been in hospital in recent days undergoing tests,โ Smullen said.
โI was showing some of the symptoms associated with a gallstone problem but it was discovered that the problem was more serious.
โA tumour was discovered and consequently I wonโt be riding for the foreseeable future. Itโs a new challenge for me and itโs one I am fully focused on overcoming.
โIโve got tremendous support from family and friends, both within racing and outside of racing, and Iโm very positive about making a full recovery.โ
Smullenโs biggest wins include four Irish St Legers on Vinnie Roe who finished fourth in the 2002 Melbourne Cup won by his Wedl-trained stablemate Media Puzzle and second two years later to Makybe Diva.