Brian Hughes: jockeys' title by no means an open goal despite Johnson injury

Brian Hughes is taking nothing for granted despite the injury to Richard Johnson handing him an excellent chance of winning his first jockeys' championship, with the title-leader describing his shot at top honours as "by no means an open goal".

Hughes stretched his advantage over four-time champion jockey Johnson, who suffered a broken right arm at Exeter on Tuesday, to four (115-111) with a victory at Wetherby on Thursday and the bookmakers believe the north's leading rider has his first title in safe-keeping.

After betting on the title race was suspended on Tuesday, some firms are now quoting Hughes at 1-33 with Johnson a 12-1 chance, but Hughes is keeping his feet on the ground with three months of the season still to go.

Speaking at Wetherby, where he bounced back from a fall in the opener to win the feature race on 16-1 shot Charmant, Hughes said: "What happened to Richard proves what a jump jockey lives with day to day – you're only one fall away from your season being over.

"This is by no means an open goal. I have to stay in one piece and Richard will be back. As he's shown in other years, he's a determined man.

"It would be great to win the championship and I'd absolutely love it, but it's not a foregone conclusion."

Hughes has twice finished runner-up in the title race to Johnson – 2016-17 and 2017-18 – and is on course to become the first northern-based jockey to be crowned champion for 40 years .

He would bridge a gap all the way back to the Jonjo O'Neill, who won the second of his titles in the 1979-80 season, and become just the sixth jockey since to win the championship, following John Francome, Peter Scudamore, Richard Dunwoody, Sir Anthony McCoy and Johnson.

Brian Hughes (left) and Richard Johnson had been locked in a tight tussle for the titleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"You try not to put it at the forefront of your mind because stuff like that clouds your judgement," Hughes said. "You have to take each day as it comes and ride every horse as you were doing, as we've still got a lot left of the season."

An alliance with Donald McCain, the trainer to provide Hughes with the highest number of winners this season (34), has helped propel the rider to the summit of his profession.

With a century of winners achieved in each of the last six seasons, Hughes has long been the top jockey in the north. As well as the backing of McCain, he has ridden ten or more winners this season for northern trainers Nicky Richards, Keith Dalgleish, Brian Ellison and James Ewart.

"Donald has a big team and it has certainly helped me get into more of a challenging position," he said. "I'm lucky I ride for a lot of good trainers and there's a lot of people giving me support. A lot of the trainers in the north have wished me well and I'm grateful for everybody's support."

The tussle between Hughes and Johnson had been shaping up to be the tightest since Dunwoody overhauled Adrian Maguire in an epic battle in the 1993-94 season.

The lead had changed hands numerous times and Hughes was relishing the battle with Johnson, who has won the title for the last four seasons.

"I'm humbled to be mentioned in the same sentence as jockeys like Richard Johnson and Tony McCoy. I grew up watching on in awe of them," added Hughes.

"Richard is a very good jockey and a gentleman as well. We sit beside each other most days when he comes up north and he's an ultimate professional."

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