The man is a living legend. Considering he had a big ban at the beginning of the flat racing season he has done remarkably well to win 150+ races and become the flat racing jockey champion. Won 5/5 at Windsor so far this afternoon.
It was a great feat, some of you may recall that I raved about him a few months back after reading his book. i have certainly won a few bob this year by following his fortunes. Unfortunatly I was off golfing this lunchtime but I caught the last 4 rides and up about £40. Great guy who has had to battle weight and drink. A good example to a fat pisshead like me!!
A quality jockey and a considered man which it's not possible to say for all jockeys. I remember someone saying something about race riding once along the lines of the best jockey is the one who goes for the stick last of all and i think Hughsie epitomises that philosophy, if he is riding your selection and it's in contantion at the furlong pole you have to feel confident as you know full well he will not have gone for everything yet. A few years back i think he would be prone to a few howlers, i put this down to refining he's understanding of this principle as i think he was learning how to coax and read when a horse needed asking and i think during this phase he got it very wrong sometimes. I think he very rarely gets it wrong nowadays and from a trainers point of view will never bring your horse back in beaten up and scarred by it's race. So much respect for what he did today and again puts our sport in the headlines tomorrow for the right reasons.
I gave him a lot of stick last year when Hannon had a decidedly temperamental juvenile that he couldnt wait to get off but having watched a documentary on him and seen his dedication and constant weight battle I now admire the man. Fitting that he did it at Windsor, he has no equal at that quirky track.
