FEATURE BRIAN HUGHES
“I don’t know what I can do any differently, really. I ride for who I ride for, and if they have a good horse, hopefully, I’ll ride it. I’d love to be going to the Cheltenham Festival with plenty of rides. “If I’m not going to be competitive somewhere and I’ve got a good ride somewhere else, I’ll be there in a heartbeat. I want to ride winners and I go where I’m required to go – that’s my job. I’m not looking at anyone with any envy, really. Wherever you’re going, you want to be competitive, and if you can’t get on good rides, it’s pointless to go.” Hughes found himself with a rather unexpected opportunity at Grade 1 level in April, when he stepped in at the last minute to partner Ahoy Senor in the Aintree Bowl at the Randox Grand National Festival. It took a top-class performance from Shishkin on the day to deny him, and it is perhaps a mark of the man that, when asked, he is quick to reference jockey Derek Fox, the man he replaced. Fox would, of course, return to fitness in time to partner Corach Rambler to a historic Randox Grand National victory on the Saturday of the meeting, but Hughes reveals that it’s not something that he views as a missed opportunity. He continues: “It’s not that I don’t want to take part in those races – it’s getting the opportunity. I relished riding Ahoy Senor and I thought we had it. “Maybe going on like we did was the wrong thing to do, but I thought he was a good stayer. I didn’t know he didn’t have a front shoe at that point, nor when we lost, but we just tied up a bit going to the last.
“The winner is a smart horse and the handicapper obviously thought we ran well, because he put him up even further! It was nice to get the ride on him and it was a shame for Derek [Fox]. I came very close to riding Corach Rambler as well. I schooled him in the week, but to be fair, I don’t feel like I missed out. “They weren’t my rides – they were Derek’s and I just felt privileged that they [Lucinda Russell and Peter Scudamore] asked me to ride them, because they’re lovely horses. They deserve all the credit.” The conversation soon switches to life outside racing and what Hughes does with his time when he’s not on a racecourse. His wife Lucy has started a yard at their home for injured horses and those on a break, prompting questions as to whether a future training career could be a possibility for Hughes. He continues: “Luckily, we have plenty to do when there’s no racing on. I’ve got two children and we’ve also got a yard now, so it keeps us entertained when I have nothing to do – whether I want it or I don’t want it! “My wife has set up a yard just to look after horses that are injured or are on breaks. It’s mainly for Donald and Kevin Ryan, but we have a few other clients as well. Lucy runs it but I help out – I do as little as I can to be honest! “Training is absolutely not the idea at all behind the yard. My wife was a school teacher and she was getting fed up with that, so this is her gig. There will never ever be a ‘Brian Hughes racehorse trainer’ – it’s a one million per cent chance, as I don’t fancy that!”
“I want to ride winners and I go where I’m required to go – that’s my job”
thejockeyclub.co.uk 33
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker