Champion jockey Brian Hughes is booked to ride last years “Galway Plate” winner Hewick. The three-time UK champion jockey will ride Hewick in the Plate on Wednesday for trainer John Shark Hanlon. 

The Armagh born jockey who graduated from RACE in Kildare in 2002, was took on by his boss back then by the great and wise Kevin Prendergast as one of many of Mr. Prendergast’s apprentices. Having rode his first winner on Perugino Lady in Downpatrick on October 9th, 2002, Hughes moved to England in 2005 and took on a big career move in riding for Howard Johnson and recording his first UK career winner onboard Bob Justice at Wetherby in December 2005.

Since then Brian Hughes has rode over 1,743 winners, becoming champion jump jockey three times, and also was the first champion jockey based in the North of England since Jonjo O’Neill won the title in 1980, not to forget Hughes who is the fourth jockey to have ever ridden 200 winners in a season along side three greats in Peter Scudamore, AP McCoy and Richard Johnson. It is a very impressive cv for someone who may not be a household name or be in the limelight. 

John Shark Hanlon who often requires Hughes’ experience in the saddle when bringing horses over to England, be it at Pert or Stratford On Avon racecourses just to name a few, has the champion jockey booked to ride Hewick in The Galway Plate on Wednesday at the Ballybrit track. 

The Bagenalstown handler of Hewick is no stranger to the winner’s enclosure on the big stages, along with Hewicks owner T J McDonald. Having been bought for €850,  Hewick has won a staggering £439,252 in prize money which is absolutely unbelievable for the price he was bought for. Winning some of racings top steeplechases such as “The Galway Plate” “The American Grand National” and “The BET365 Oaksey Chase” at Sandown just to name a few.

 Hewick lines up on Wednesday for one of Irelands most famous steeplechases “The Galway Plate”. There is no doubt that both trainer John Shark Hanlon and owner T J McDonald will be hoping that the people’s horse Hewick will hit the line in front once again, this time in the hands of three time champion jockey Brian Hughes.