Hughes wins again at Wetherby

A review of Wednesday’s meeting at Wetherby as in-form Brian Hughes won again, this time on Cooking Fat.

Any day a jockey rides a double is to be celebrated – but after taking November by storm Brian Hughes might feel slightly disappointed he left Wetherby with just the successes of Kalaniti and Cooking Fat to his name.

Those two wins took his tally for the month to an incredible 29, and with another six days in which to add to it.

He had what looked another very good book of rides and it could have been another memorable afternoon as three other mounts frustratingly finished second.

To say his luck had turned would be pushing things, but it is fair to say he would have taken a good deal of pleasure out of winning on Forth Bridge had he held on in the ROA/Racing Post Owners Jackpot Juvenile Maiden Hurdle.

Now trained by Charlie Longsdon having been with Michel Bell on the Flat, he is owned by the Queen and it would have been another notable first for Hughes, who tried to make all but was reeled in by Alan King’s Couer De Lion (9-4 favourite).

Longsdon said of the royal runner: “He jumped great, if just a bit big and green.

“He’s one for the future, not the now. He didn’t deserve to get beaten.”

Tom Cannon was on the winner and said: “I thought I was going nowhere down the back, but I gave him a squeeze and he responded.

“I committed him in the straight and got a good jump at the last.”

Kalaniti needed all of Hughes’ skills in the saddle …

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