Brian Hughes claims maiden Jump jockeys’ title

6th April 2020

With jump racing not due to resume until July, Cleveland-based Brian Hughes has been officially awarded his maiden Champion Jump Jockey title

Formerly Champion Conditional in 2007/08, the 34-year-old Irishman has been a beacon of consistency in recent seasons; particularly across Northern racecourses at which he’s been the top rider for the bulk of the last decade. This season saw Hughes hit new heights as he managed to knock four-time Champion jockey Richard Johnson from his perch at the top of the Jump jockey pyramid. Let’s take a look through some of the highlights of Brian Hughes’ fantastic season.

First to 100 winners

Brian Hughes was the first jockey in the championship to bring up the century of winners and boy did he do it in style; delivering a brilliant ride on Let Me Be to bring up the hundred and complete a four-timer at Newcastle

December Delight

Hughes really kicked into overdrive in the run up to Christmas as he registered not one, but two four-timers. The aforementioned quadruple at Newcastle came a remarkable six days after Hughes had notched up his first four-timer of the season at Carlisle. This red hot period was further supplemented by a treble at Sedgefield and a double at Doncaster which included victory in the Grade 2 Bet365 Summit Juvenile Hurdle with Navajo Pass.

Old Roan Chase victory

Though registering the bulk of his wins in smaller events in the north of England, Hughes showed that when given the opportunity on the big stage that he’s as talented as any of his weighing room colleagues. The 2019 Roan Chase had plenty of talented horses in the line-up including Frodon and Kalashnikov. But it was Forest Bihan and Brian Hughes who brought their A-game to the table to win the Grade 2 at Aintree with a powerful finish in the home straight.