Brian Hughes isn't the most high-profile graduate of Kevin Prendergast's jockey academy but the veteran Curragh trainer's decision to turn to his former apprentice for his big race hope, Katie T, paid off in style at Leopardstown's first fixture of 2015.
The 12-1 shot had to survive a stewards' enquiry into the €100,000 Boylesports Hurdle following an incident after the last with the runner-up, Modem, which resulted in Hughes receiving a two-day ban for careless riding.
One false step
But it was the only false step taken throughout one of the most competitive handicaps of the season by the 29-year-old jockey from south Armagh who is this campaign’s leading north of England based rider, with 71 winners.
It has taken 10 years in Britain for the quietly efficient Hughes to reach such status, helped by previous big race wins including Always Waining in the 2009 Topham over the famous Aintree fences and a Cheltenham festival win on Hawk High last March.
Nevertheless he has yet to achieve a high public profile across the Irish Sea, never mind at home, something that didn’t matter to Prendergast when he was looking for someone to partner Katie T.
The 82-year-old training stalwart is famous for the jockeys he has moulded, such as Kieren Fallon and Charlie Swan, during the course of a career mostly focussed on the flat.
Prendergast's last significant National Hunt winner was Our Bid in the 1999 Champion Bumper at Punchestown, while Prominent King landed the Irish Champion Hurdle in 1976 and 1978 over the Boylesports course and distance.
But that long gap counted for nothing as Katie T travelled like a dream and rallied after being slow at the final flight to win by three lengths.
“She had a look at a shadow before the last,” said Hughes, who spent three and a half years with Prendergast before moving to Britain to ride over jumps.
“I was delighted to get the call on Tuesday to ride. Kevin was always very good to me.”
Prendergast added: “Brian spent almost four years with me. But he’s a very high class rider. I’m surprised the bigger stables in England don’t use him more. He gave her a superb ride. I don’t think this mare will go to Cheltenham. She mightn’t be the best traveller. We might go to Punchestown instead, although handicaps might be harder after this.”
Handicaps also look unlikely for Foxrock after a Leopardstown Chase victory that could set him up for a Grade 1 attempt on next month's Hennessy.
Trainer Ted Walsh was afterwards critical of a race programme that sees another high-profile handicap, the Thyestes, run this Thursday, and said the Leopardstown race should be run in February.
Walsh added: “He’s finished in handicaps and if he’s fresh and well, he might run in the Hennessy or maybe the Bobbyjo.”
Local success
It was a local success for Foxrock's owner Barry Connell, who said: "He's going to get a rise now into at least the mid-150s and he's probably entitled to have a go at the Hennessy. He's a progressive second season novice and the dream is still alive."
Davy Russell recorded a double in the opening two hurdles aboard Fletcher and Golan Road and the jockey said of the latter: "I rode her dam to win a race at Tramore so I must be getting on."
