Praise for champion Brian Hughes as he aims to do it all again

Hughes was on the 141-winner mark for the 2019-20 campaign, 19 clear of Richard Johnson, when the season was curtailed last month due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Yet, with the 12-month season in its final throes and due to end at Sandown on April 25, Hughes was officially named champion jockey on Monday night.

The first Northern-based rider to achieve the feat since the legendary Jonjo O’Neill 40 years ago, no-one has worked harder – or studied the form more closely – to reach the top and deny Johnson, the four-time champion, and second most successful National Hunt rider in history.

Champion conditional over a decade ago, Hughes, 34, began to get more recognition – and opportunities – when he teamed up with Jefferson’s late father Malcolm, one of the most respected trainers in the sport.

He nurtured horses of the calibre of Waiting Patiently and it was poignant that Hughes should ride the horse to Grade One success at Ascot in February, 2018 just a day after the trainer had been laid to rest.

By then, Waiting Patiently was being trained by Jefferson’s daughter Ruth, who sees the championship as a vindication of her father’s faith in Hughes.

“He’s been on an upward trajectory for such a long time and it’s so nice to see someone who has such burning ambition achieve their dreams,” she said.

“Brian and dad grew together as a team and that helped him progress as a jockey. He’s achieved something most can only dream of.”

Those views were echoed by her fellow Malton trainer Brian Ellison, whose Forest Bihan was partnered by Hughes to a notable success in Aintree’s Old Roan Chase last October.

A hold-up horse with quirks of his own, the tactics were executed to perfection and Ellison said: “I’m over the moon for him. He’s worked so hard for this and deserves it. He’s like an encyclopaedia when it comes to form and is a complete professional.”

The decision of Hughes to also link up with former Grand National-winning trainer Donald McCain provided the jockey with the volume of rides, and winners, that he would need to challenge the veteran Johnson.

“What with him joining our yard and his others contacts in the North, there was always a chance of him becoming champion jockey,” said McCain.

“Now he’s achieved the dream I couldn’t be happier for him. I think this is a story that has slightly been overlooked.

“Nothing has ever come easy to Brian. He’s had to work hard every day of his life to get to where he is now. It’s also fantastic for the North to have a champion jockey. It’s magic!”

Hughes, a board member of the Professional Jockeys Association, also rides for Cumbrian trainer Nicky Richards, whose late father, Gordon, helped Ron Barry and O’Neill reach the top of jump racing in the 1970s.

“There are definitely similarities between the three of them in that they work very, very hard and have a lot of self-belief,” he said.

“Brian always has time and advice for the lads and lasses at the yard and that shows you how much of a decent human being he is. I’m sure Richard Johnson, who is an amazing fellow himself, will take his hat off to him.”

Johnson – a great gentleman and competitor – has certainly been fulsome in his tribute; he was involved in a thrilling tussle with Hughes before breaking his arm in a fall at Exeter in January.

In turn, Hughes, in his blog for sports betting and gaming operator VBET, who sponsor him, has signalled his desire to defend his championship once the coronavirus crisis has passed.

“It’s not how I wanted to win the jockeys’ championship, but I’m so proud to have got here,” he reflected. “It was a great shame that Richard (Johnson) got injured, but I guess that during that time we also missed a good chunk of the campaign because of the bad weather.

“I was hoping to get to the 150-winner mark, but that doesn’t matter at all now. The season has still been grand and it’s such a wonderful feeling to follow in the footsteps of Richard, AP McCoy and all of the other racing legends I’ve looked up to.

“That said, good horses make jockeys look good, and without the horses you are nothing. And without the support from brilliant trainers, great owners and my agent, Richard Hale, I would not be in this position.”

He added: “I would also like to express my gratitude to the hard-working stable staff across the land, the physios, the valets, everyone who works on a racecourse – and, of course, my family.

“Racing is a team game, and I cannot stress enough how so many fantastic people and fantastic horses have played their part in me becoming champion jockey. The next step now is to try and do it all again. Thank you so much to everyone – stay safe.”