Findon horse racing legend Josh Gifford, the Grand National-winning trainer, is to retire and hand over to his son, Nick.

The man who saddled Aldaniti for an emotional triumph at Aintree is to hand over the reins of his Sussex stable next June.

He said: "It's a young man's game now. Nick is 31 and I'm 61 next month so it's best he takes over sooner rather than later.

"I've written to all my owners this week and they understand the situation."

Gifford was a leading National Hunt rider before taking up training over 30 years ago and won the jump jockeys' championship four times.

His biggest triumph as a trainer came when the former invalid Aldaniti won the Grand National under recovered cancer patient Bob Champion in 1981.

Other good horses he handled included Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Deep Sensation and the King George VI Chase-placed Door Latch.

Mr Gifford said today "it wasn't a hard decision" to bring the curtain down on his training career.

He said: "It is all rush and tear, with racing seven days a week and nearly 365 days a year and I have been doing it since I was a teenager.

"Owners expect you to be there and go to functions and I don't want to do that any more.

"Nick has got to go to Newmarket to pass his exams - they have to do three courses now.

"But I am sure he will bounce through those and if all goes well and he still wants to do it he will take over at the start of next jumps season.

"I will still be around but I won't feel guilty about taking a holiday or going for a day's shooting - I have some lovely owners who often invite me but sometimes I have to say no."

Speaking of his career, he said: "I have been lucky as there have been so many highlights, including getting an MBE.

"Aldaniti winning the National was an unbelievable day, and all my rides at Aintree were memorable - I never had a fall there and I rode round about 30 times.

"I have had a lot of great horses but Deep Sensation and Bradbury Star were two very good servants and both won half a million pounds in prize money.

"I don't look back on the low points and I have no regrets."

Success has been harder to come by for Gifford in recent years, with his string down to around 30 and the highly-promising Rouble killed at Cheltenham last March.

But he said: "We have got some nice young horses and hopefully there will be a star or two among them - they are a job to find but I would like to have one to help Nick when he takes over."