No Waiting Patiently but Hughes warms up for festival with a double

Although he doesn't have the ride on Waiting Patiently in the Ryanair Chase to look forward to on Thursday it was another fine day for jockey Brian Hughes, who had two winners and a close second.

One of the most remarkable course statistics is the rider's record when teaming up with trainer Donald McCain. At the start of racing it was five winners from just six rides, but after winning on Snougar it is now six winners from seven rides, although it was a close call.

Snougar was having his second run over hurdles having finished third at Wetherby first time. Although he won, it was a case of Hughes refusing to accept defeat for he was headed by Chasseur De Tete at the last but managed to get his mount back up in the final strides to win by a short head.