Mystery surrounds Ballydoyle job

Profile: Darryll Holland Profile: Johnny Murtagh

Bookmakers are divided as speculation mounts over who will replace Jamie Spencer as Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien's stable jockey.

English rider Darryll Holland initially became a surprise favourite, as one bookmaker stopped taking bets on him.

Irish firm Cashmans closed its book after he was backed from 3-1 to 1-3.

But Paddy Power have Holland fancied along with Johnny Murtagh, who won the Epsom Derby on the O'Brien-trained High Chaparral in 2002.

Spencer plans to ride as a freelance in 2005 after his decision to quit the coveted role.

"When it came down to it, I had been thinking about it for a while and in the end it was personal and professional things," he said.

"Peace of mind is a lot in life, no matter how much money you have."

Spencer denied there had been any problems between himself and O'Brien during his one-year spell as stable jockey, or that high-profile mistakes had prompted the decision to quit.

"I rode well last season, but every jockey will say they can ride better, even if they won every race in a season," he said.