Return of Dickie keeps title race in air – for now

The news this week that champion jockey Richard Johnson will shortly be back in action after recovering from a broken arm means that the race to win the 2019- 2020 jockeys’ title isn’t quite over.

Brian Hughes, attempting to become the first northern based jockey in 40 years to win the title, currently has a lead of 19 over Johnson and I still think Hughesie will be the victor but you can rest assured the current champion won’t give up without a fight.

Taking absolutely nothing away from Richard, I would love to see Brian win as I think it would be a huge feather in the cap for northern racing.

And no one would deserve it more than the Irishman who is easily the hardest working rider in the country travelling thousands of miles in his quest for winners.

With Donald McCain and Nicky Richards his main supporters, Brian will have plenty of ammunition in the coming weeks.

And I am sure that there will be plenty of questions about the title race put to him at Ayr’s Cheltenham Preview Dinner at Western House Hotel on March 6.

Hopefully Hughesie can ride a winner or two the following day - at a meeting where he has ridden six winners over the past three years - and a decent Coral Scottish Grand National for the rider should all but clinch the title.

It would be a proud moment not only for Brian but for all the trainers he rides for and speaking from a personal point of view to have Brian as champion jockey and riding at virtually every single one of our meetings as he does over the course of a year would be a huge bonus for the track.