PRUNELLA Dobbs, the dual-purpose trainer, arguably best-known for her handling of high-class mare Our Girl Salley, has called time on her 24-year career in the training ranks.

Based in Kilbride, Co Wicklow, she recorded 42 winners over jumps in Ireland and a further 25 on the flat. Her final runner on the level proved to be a winner, when Engines On landed a Curragh handicap on the final day of the 2024 flat season.

A keen show jumping enthusiast in her youth, earning a place on a junior Irish team and top honours at the RDS, she became a regular fixture on the bloodstock scene through her work with BBA Ireland and transferred that experience and knowledge to training in 2001.

Celio, ridden by Paul Moloney, became her first winner at Tramore a year later, though her biggest successes came in 2010 and 2011, with Our Girl Salley winning twice at listed level and once in Grade 3 company at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. The seven-time-winning mare went on to become the dam of Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival heroine, Black Tears.

Dobbs told The Irish Field: “I didn’t realise when we had a winner at the Curragh last autumn that I was going to say goodbye, but the licence renewal period comes in February and it felt like the time had come. Everything was going well and I had a couple of really nice horses, so I’m sorry to give up, but you have to make these decisions.

“At the time I took out my licence, many of my contemporaries were handing their licences in. It was something that I always wanted to do, ever since I was working in the BBA and before I was married [to late husband, George]. When I was working for [the late] Tom Cooper, I had that ambition, but thankfully I didn’t embark on it until my children left home, because it could have wrecked their childhood if I was doing it!”

She added: “George and I really enjoyed doing it. We never had more than 10 horses in training and I never had a year without a winner. I loved every minute.

“I’m so grateful to the owners for putting horses in training with me. I couldn’t have done it without them. They’ve been upset that I’m doing this now, but it’s the right time. I want to thank my head man Patrick Murray too. With the exception of a short break, he’s been with me ever since I took out my licence and is a very fine horseman. A very fine man.”

Dobbs is among multiple trainers to not renew their licence in this window.

However, she departs the landscape with no gripes towards the authorities over how smaller trainers are supported.

“Horse Racing Ireland is such a professional body and everything works like clockwork,” Dobbs said.

“You do your own thing. The chances of finding a good horse out of a small number of horses is difficult, when you’re competing against the guys with 200 horses to choose from.

“I’ve been very fortunate to keep my head above water.”

Leanne Breen

Leanne Breen has also decided to step away from training. Based in Warrenpoint, Co Down, Breen specialised in flat racing and had approximately 15 winners since she started in 2019.

She told The Irish Field: “I’m going travelling for a while and will consider my options after that.

“I trained low-grade flat horses and the yard was full. But to buy even a lowly-rated horse now costs €15,000 and it’s just not viable.”

Two Co Kildare trainers told The Irish Field this week they were likely to cease training, but were not ready to go public, as they had not informed all their owners. One had 15 winners over the past two years.

The Irish Racehorse Trainers Association says there were approximately 330 fully-licensed trainers at the end of 2024. All licences must be renewed by February 28th.