EDDIE LYNAM paid handsome tribute to Johnny Murtagh after one of the world’s greatest jockeys announced he is to retire from the saddle to concentrate on his training career.

Murtagh, 43, rode plenty of big winners for Lynam, including on Sole Power in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last year.

The jockey’s last ride was on the same horse in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in December.

‘‘He’s been a great jockey.

It’s a big loss to me, but we’ll have to get with it,’’ said the County Meath handler.

‘‘I was talking to him on Monday and wished him a happy retirement. He’s going to be a good trainer now, so we will have to compete against him.

‘‘He gave Sole Power a fantastic ride in the King’s Stand. It was best summed up by James Willoughby that day. He said Johnny sold lengths when they were expensive and bought them when they were cheap. He gave him an extremely good ride that day.”

During a stellar career Murtagh rode over 100 Group One winners at home and abroad, and was successful in each of the five Irish Classics at least once, riding four Irish Derby winners and six Irish Oaks winners, including last year’s French-trained Oaks heroine Chicquita.

He also rode three winners of the Epsom Derby in Sinndar (2000), High Chaparral (2002) and Motivator and was successful in the 2000 Guineas twice aboard the brilliant Rock Of Gibraltar (2002) and Henrythenavigator (2008).

Murtagh’s other British Classic victory came with a brilliant front-running ride aboard 2011 Oaks scorer Dancing Rain.

The jockey also had a great affinity with Royal Ascot, taking the leading rider award at the summer showpiece meeting for a fifth time last year.

His numerous Ascot winners include five triumphs in the Gold Cup, guiding the remarkable Yeats to two of his four victories in the two-anda- half-mile feature.