Top jockey had to wait at the gates of heaven but title can never be taken away
Richard Forristal speaks to the rider finally crowned after weeks of limbo
Quite what took so long is unclear but, three weeks after the BHA terminated the jumps season, Brian Hughes was on Monday finally granted the right to be called champion jockey.
That it was taking so long for his achievement to be officially recognised had been begun to grate a little.
Once the announcement came on St Patrick's Day that British racing was suspended until the end of April, the jumps season was in effect over. A fortnight later, the authorities in Ireland followed suit and last week the various champions there were all duly anointed.
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Copy- 'It's tough financially and last year I said I might get a job driving a lorry instead - although to be fair I'd probably crash!'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'I had to fly back from Saudi on the day for the awards before flying back the following day but it really was a great evening'
- 'The lads often give out to me for saying what I say - but if I didn't say what I thought I wouldn't be being true to myself'
- 'All anyone wants is a pat on the back and these awards show you mean something to the yard and the people there. It's brilliant'
- 'It's tough financially and last year I said I might get a job driving a lorry instead - although to be fair I'd probably crash!'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'I had to fly back from Saudi on the day for the awards before flying back the following day but it really was a great evening'
- 'The lads often give out to me for saying what I say - but if I didn't say what I thought I wouldn't be being true to myself'
- 'All anyone wants is a pat on the back and these awards show you mean something to the yard and the people there. It's brilliant'