Hughes hits the century mark in record time with Ayr victory

Brian Hughes wrote his name into the history books at Ayr yesterday when he notched his 100th winner of the jumps season – the fastest-ever century by a northern-based jumps jockey.

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 gelding to a fiveand-a-half-length win over Fete Champetre.

Hughes said: “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 quickfire 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, trained by Ben Haslam, jumped the last well and forged three lengths clear of Fearless under jockey Richie Mclernon.

In today’s action, a hat-trick could be in the offing for the Martin Keighley-trained Ten Past Midnight in the Cazoo Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Southwell.

Keighley has his string in good form at the moment, with Ten Past Midnight's October triumphs at Newton Abbot and Uttoxeter followed by recent winners at Huntingdon, Cheltenham and Chepstow. The selection has returned from a summer break in rude health, filling the runner-up spot on his reappearance before his backto-back triumphs last month. Another bold bid is anticipated in the Midlands.