Brian Hughes (born 27 June 1985) is a Northern Irish

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

who competes in

National Hunt racing In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...

. Hughes won the

British jump racing Champion Jockey In Great Britain's National Hunt racing, the title of Champion Jockey is bestowed on the jockey who has ridden the most winning horses during a racing season. From its inception in 1900 through to 1925, the award was given to the jockey who had r ...

title for the 2019–20 season with 141 winners. Hughes comes from

County Armagh County Armagh (, named after its county town, Armagh) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. Adjoined to the southern shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of and ha ...

but is based in Northern England and became the first champion jockey based in the North since

Jonjo O'Neill John Joseph "Jonjo" O'Neill (born 13 April 1952) is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England. O'Neill ...

won the title in 1980. On 20 April 2022, Hughes rode his 200th winner in a season - a feat previously achieved only by

Peter Scudamore Peter Scudamore MBE (born 29 June 1958), often known as 'Scu', is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was an eight-time Champion Jockey (including one title shared with John Francome), riding 1,678 winning horses in his ca ...

, AP McCoy & Richard Johnson. Hughes won his second jockeys' title for the 2021-22 season.

Cheltenham Festival winners (3)

Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase The Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase, known for sponsorship purposes as the Paddy's Reward Club Novices' Handicap Chase, is a Listed National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years ...

- (2) Ballyalton (2016), Mister Whitaker (2018) *

Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle The Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle, known for sponsorship purposes as the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, is a Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It ...

- (1) Hawk High (2014)

Major wins

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

Ascot Chase The Ascot Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs (2 miles, 5 furlo ...

- (1) Waiting Patiently (2018) *

Top Novices' Hurdle The Top Novices' Hurdle is a Grade One National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and half a ...

- (1) Cyrus Darius (2015)

References

1985 births Living people British Champion jumps jockeys Irish jockeys Sportspeople from County Armagh Lester Award winners {{Ireland-horseracing-bio-stub