HORSE RACING
IAIN FERGUSON
Brian Hughes has long been the most prolific rider in the north but the 20192020 champion jockey hit a new high at Ayr Racecourse on Monday when he rode his 100 th winner of the season – the fastest century ever recorded by a northern jock.
The landmark success came on Dreams Of Honour for trainer Donald McCain in the Coral Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, the feature race of the afternoon, when he steered the 11-8 favourite to an emphatic five and a half length win over Fete Champetre.
Brian said after the race: “I am riding them but it’s the yards I ride for – Donald McCain, Nicky Richards, Brian Ellison and Nicky Richards who are giving me the winners.
“The ultimate aim remains to regain the jockeys championship.
“Anything can happen during the season so I’ll just keep pushing towards the next milestone.”
Nick Alexander’s Kinneston stable in Fife is in good form and notched another winner when Cancan, 5-2, won the opening race, the Coral Best Odds Guaranteed Mares’ Novice’ Hurdle.
The well backed five year-old battled all the way, ridden by Henry Brooke, to the line to win by three quarters of a length from Ramble West.
Another Scottish trainer in good form is Lucinda Russell and she landed her 15th winner of the season when Spark Of Madness, 13-2 and ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, hit the front three out and stayed on well to win the Coral Handicap Hurdle.
Be The Difference was winning his second race at Ayr within six days when romping home by three lengths in the Coral Backing Scottish Racing Handicap Hurdled for trainer Phil Kirby and jockey Tommy Dowson.
The horse could now head to Doncaster on Friday in search of a quick fire hat trick.
The famous green and gold colours of owner JP McManus were carried to victory in the last race, the Coral “Fail To Finish” Free Bets Handicap Chase when Dr Sanderson, 6-1, trained by Ben Haslam, jumped the last well and forged there lengths clear of Fearless under jockey Richie McLernon.
The trainer was asked by the stewards to explain the improvement in form of the winner and the explanation was that he was dropping in trip.