Charlie Swan yesterday revealed that he will be more selective in accepting mounts next season, as he combines riding with a new training career.

He will seek to avoid partnering "novice chasers with no chance" as he bids for yet another jump jockeys' championship.

But he hopes that talking over the reins at his father Donald's Co Tipperary stable will not stop the successful trips to Britain which have been a regular feature of his career.

Swan, 30, had at one time been thought likely to retire from the saddle at the end of this season but has delayed quitting in order to maintain his partnership with Champion Hurdler Istabraq.

"I always planned to start training and I have applied for my licence and I hope to start on July 1st," he said. "I am very much looking forward to it. I hope to start with 20 to 30 horses and build up from there.

"I am still going to ride and I will still ride over hurdles as much as before. But I'll be cutting back on riding horses with no chance in novice chases."

Swan's father has been training at Cloughjordan for 28 years. His son is set to be assisted by Danny Barry who is leaving his job as head lad to Gordon Richards to take up a similar position with Swan.

Barry, who has spent 11 years at Greystoke, said: "There's no doubt about it, Mr Richards has been very good to me and I've been involved with some top-class horses like One Man. But this is a new challenge and these opportunities don't come up every day."

Combining training and riding is not unusual in this country, with champion Flat jockey Christy Roche - whose string includes smart hurdler Grimes - the prime example.

The 1990s have seen Swan mix domination of the Irish racing scene with frequent trips to Britain to plunder the big races.

He was leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival in 1993 and 1994 and has ridden a career total of 12 winners at jump racing's biggest meeting - behind only Richard Dunwoody among current jockeys.

Other big-race success include the Jameson Irish Grand National on Ebony Jane and the Whitbread Gold Cup on both Ushers Island and Life Of A Lord.

Swan has formed a profitable partnership with British champion trainer Martin Pipe, on whose Rainbow Frontier he landed his 1,000th career winner over jumps in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock early this month.