Former Champion Jockey Brian Hughes has had another excellent season in the saddle in the 2024/25 National Hunt campaign. Although he has not regained his title, he has taken a big step towards a career milestone of 2,000 winners.
During the Easter weekend, Hughes rode his 1,910th career winner at Carlisle when Coup De Coeur prevailed in a handicap chase. With no plans for retirement any time soon, the 40-year-old, now has 2,000 career victories in his sight over the next 12 months.
Cheltenham Festival Success the Highlight
It has been another big season for Hughes, with success coming at some of the major meetings in the sport. The Real Whacker provided him with a triumph in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby back in November. The man from County Armagh will likely partner the horse in the King George VI Chase later this year, where they are 100/1 in the horse racing betting for the Kempton feature.
As the horse racing results show, the highlight for Hughes in the 2024/25 season was his victory at the Cheltenham Festival. He rode Doddiethegreat to first place in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle for trainer Nicky Henderson. That triumph came on day three of the biggest week of the year in the UK.
Hughes had more success at Cheltenham at the final fixture of the season at the Gloucestershire-based venue. He partnered Poetisa to triumph in a bumper contest for mares and fillies. She could return to the same racecourse next season in one of the leading novice hurdle races.
Hughes In the Mix Next Season
Over the last five years, Hughes has had more success than any other rider in the British Jump Jockeys’ Championship. He has lifted the title three times in that period, with the trophy going his way in 2020, 2022 and 2023. In 2022, he rode over 200 winners for the season, an impressive feat in the sport.
Image by RafinDeveloper from Pixabay
Hughes will be buoyed by the way he has finished the latest campaign. He has had a lot of success at the northern tracks in British racing, and if he can carry that form into the summer months, he may be able to secure a healthy lead in the standings before the jumps campaign gets going fully in October.
The Northern Irishman will be competing against champion-elect Sean Bowen, former winners Harry Cobden and Harry Skelton and Sam Twiston-Davies in what is going to be a competitive title race next season.
David Power Jockeys’ Cup Incentive
The other big goal for Hughes in the 2025/26 campaign will be the David Power Jockeys’ Cup, which will be in its second year. Points are awarded to riders for winning races shown live on ITV. Hughes finished 16th with 84 points in the inaugural competition. He will be aiming for much better next season.
Skelton scooped £500,000 in prize money by winning the David Power Cup, so there is a big incentive for the leading riders in the UK to prevail in the races shown on ITV Racing.
With some goals still ahead, Hughes will be hoping his leading years in the sport remain ahead of him, and that the 2025/26 campaign can be his best yet.
