Barnstorming Brian Hughes reaches 200 winner club

Hard working jumps jockey Brian Hughes became just the fourth rider to reach the mark of 200 winners in the season, following in the footsteps of Sir Anthony McCoy, Richard Johnson and Peter Scudamore.

The magic 200th came via Dreams Of Home in the Bob Nelson Capercaillie Handicap Chase for Donald McCain.

He told Great British Racing: "It's not something I ever thought I could achieve. It wasn't a target (at the beginning of the season).

"It's always the target to ride 100 winners and 100 winners is a fair achievement, so it just shows the luck I've had and the support I've had from the trainers to get to double that.

"My agent has done a fantastic job getting me on the horses I ride because he organises everything day to day for me, so without him I'd be struggling."

Hughes missed out on the Champion Jumps jockey title last year to Harry Skelton but will be crowned Champion Jockey for 2022 at Sandown at the weekend, testament to both his riding ability and tenacity to get to the line time after time.

He added: "Last season hurt a lot to get beat. This season I set out with an intention and I gave it a good shot. I owe a huge thanks to everyone's support.

"I've just got my head down, I haven't been complacent all year and I won't start this week. I am hungry for it, last season fuelled me more so. I am more determined and more focused on taking every opportunity."

Hughes will make sure he drinks in the adulation of the crowd when he is crowned, after becoming champ during the Covid:19 pandemic when the season was slightly curtailed

"I will appreciate winning more (this time), not that I didn't appreciate it the first time.

"That was the disappointing part of that season, we didn't see the season out and I felt I had a point to prove, that I was good enough to be champion jockey."

300 wins will be a stretch but there are few better jockeys at the business end over jumps, nor one prepared to work so hard for winners.