Brian Hughes reaches 100 wins for the season to set new record for the north

Monday: Ayr

Former champion Brian Hughes became the fastest northern-based jockey to reach a century of winners in a season when guiding Dreams Of Home to a comfortable success in the feature 2m½f novice handicap chase, fittingly for Donald McCain.

Hughes was kept waiting for his 100th winner when he was denied aboard McCain’s odds-on favourite Ramble West in the opening mares’ novice hurdle. Victory there went to the Nick Alexander-trained Cancan ridden by Henry Brooke, who was riding a first winner since breaking five ribs and puncturing his lung in a fall at Kelso last month.

However, Hughes and McCain were not to be denied for long with Dreams Of Home relishing the step back in trip to score for the fourth time in five starts under rules, giving Hughes his landmark winner.

Hughes, who enjoyed a rare day off on Sunday, said on Racing TV: "It’s me doing the riding of them but everyone in Cholmondeley [McCain's base] and every other yard I ride for – Charlie Longsdon, Nicky Richards, Brian Ellison – they’re the ones giving me the horses to ride."

He added: "The ultimate goal remains reclaiming the championship. Anything can happen during the season, so there's no room to let up. I'll keep pushing towards the next milestone and continue to ride as many winners as possible."

Brian Hughes chases home Henry Brooke aboard Cancan (right)Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Foster scores again

The Micky Hammond-trained Foster'sisland made it back-to-back wins under conditional jockey Emma Smith-Chaston in the 2m3½f handicap hurdle.

Also making it back-to-back successes was Phil Kirby's Be The Difference, who followed up last Tuesday's win at the track by taking the 3m½f handicap hurdle under Thomas Dowson.

Results, replays and analysis

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