FORMER champion jumps jockey Brian Hughes, 40, made it nine winners in the space of six days with a treble on Azahara Palace, Tashkan and Stick With Me Sam at Hexham's final meeting of the year last Wednesday.
Azahara Palace fulfilled the promise shown on hurdling debut at Wetherby when runner-up to Anariza by going one better in the 2m Seasons Greetings From Hexham Bookmakers Mares' Novices' Hurdle Race. Always prominent, the Adrian Keatley-trained five-year-old headed long time leader Mad Mag (Peter Kavanagh) approaching the last and kept on well up the run-in to score by two-and-three-quarter lengths.
A five-time winner on the Flat for Hughie Morrison before changing hands for 35,000 guineas at Tattersalls Horse-In-Training Sale on October 29, Azahara Palace now carries the familiar colours of Jimmy Fyffe.
Hughes doubled up on the Brian Ellison-trained Tashkan in the 2m4f Paxtons Now Stocking Stihl Equipment Maiden Hurdle Race. Back on his favoured heavy ground for a belated hurdling debut, Tashkan reeled in Cushendun (Callum Bewley) between the home turn and the last before edging in front inside the final half-furlong to secure a half-length verdict.
A four-time winner on the Flat, the seven-year-old earned more than £400,000 in prize-money and posted notable efforts when runner-up to Trueshan in the Group 2 Long Distance Cup at Ascot in October 2021, and third to Double Major in the Group 1 Prix Royal Oak at Longchamp in October 2023.
''It was a good learning experience for him,'' said Ellison.
On switching to hurdles, the trainer added: ''He just never had his ground on the Flat last year. He needs it heavy, so we thought we'd try him jumping. He's had issues with his joints before but this year he's been grand, so it was the time to do it.
''He's done a fair bit of schooling and has always done it well, and I expect him to come on a lot for that run.''
On his second outing since undergoing wind surgery, Worcestershire raider Stick With Me Sam recorded a first win over fences at the sixth attempt in the 2m Tant Pis Handicap Chase to complete a treble for Hughes.
Always prominent, the six-year-old headed pace-setting Dixie Cowboy (Callum Bewley) at the last and then forged clear inside the final furlong to score by eight lengths.
This late maturer was bought for £40,000 by Tom Gretton Racing at Goffs UK Store Sale in May 2022 and will need a lot more wins to recoup his hefty price tag.
Hughes kept the bandwagon rolling with a double at Newcastle the following day to take his career tally to 1955.
Irish raider King Gris (Charlie Maggs) reigned supreme in the 2m4f Buttermere Handicap Hurdle Race and was the only winning favourite on the six-race card.
Patiently ridden in third from the outset behind his only two rivals Pure Sirloin (Patrick Wadge) and Getaway Master (Joshua Thompson), the Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old quickened up nicely to hit the front at the last and, after being headed on the flat, rallied bravely to lead again inside the final half-furlong for a one-and-a-half lengths success over Getaway Master.
Superior Glance (Jack Hogan) set out to make all the running in the 2m7f Robert & Helen Carr-Smith Wedding Anniversary Handicap Hurdle Race and looked like doing so after going clear up the hill from two out but a mistake at the last when tiring didn't help his cause. The ten-year-old was eventually overhauled inside the final half-furlong by Adveram (Callum Bewley) and Guernesey (Joshua Thompson), with the former just doing enough to score by a neck.
Bewley said: ''It's hard work out there on that ground, but luckily the ones I've been riding all seem to love it.''
Hexham specialist Heeztheboy (Jack Hogan) recorded a third course win on heavy ground in the 2m4f Ursa Major Event Of Sivola Memorial Handicap Chase.
Always travelling well under a patient ride, the Gary Hanmer-trained eight-year-old still had plenty to do in fifth place two out before cruising past his rivals on the outer up the testing climb to the home straight . After holding a narrow lead at the last, he stayed on strongly in the closing stages to score by three-and-a-quarter lengths from Walking On A Dream (Derek Fox) to make it three wins and a second from four starts since being bought by Jane Ashley for only £4,000 at Goffs UK Doncaster Sale in May. This latest victory took his earnings for new connections to £19,600 and, with more to come, he is definitely worth following over the next few months on his favoured heavy ground.
The Hexham course now enjoys its traditional three-month winter break before the first of 15 scheduled fixtures in 2026 takes place on Thursday, March 12.
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