Oneway and Crossbow Creek, the two horses who put Mark Rimell’s Leafield stables, near Witney, on the map are to be retired.

Rimell announced the decision last night after Oneway recorded his first win since 2005 at Worcester on Friday – on the owner-trainer’s 40th birthday.

Now a 13-year-old, the bay gelding put his distinctive white blaze in front once more in a two-mile handicap chase under Tom Scudamore to beat Nikola by a length and a quarter at 25-1.

Rimell admitted it had taken him by surprise – especially as he thought the veteran would need the run after a spell on the sidelines following a serious leg injury on the gallops, which almost saw him lose his life.

He said: “I couldn’t have written it really. It was a lovely day.

“He won’t run again now, he will be retired. I could run him again, but if I went and got him beat it would be a shame. I think we will end it on a good note.

“Last April he fractured a hind leg, and there were contrasting opinions. One vet told me I might as well put him to sleep and another said put him in a plaster cast and box rest him.

“We did that and took it steady with him.”

Oneway won seven races, including twice around San-down where he was also third to Kauto Star in the 2005 and 2006 Tingle Creek Trophy Chases.

He is to be joined in retirement by Crossbow Creek, who won 11 times – six over jumps, including the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton – and five times on the Flat.

“Unfortunately he has a leg injury that he has been carrying for some time, and it’s recoccured,” added Rimell of the 12-year-old.

“The thought of retiring these horses now is a bit of a tear-jerker.”