The 2022 Randox Grand National is now a little over one week away and as such, now is an excellent time to register with any of our featured bookmaker partners and take full advantage of the many Grand National free bet promotions, enhanced places and price boosts up for grabs.
Champion Jockey elect Brian Hughes without a ride in 2022 Grand National
Brian Hughes is 89 winners clear in the race for the Jockey’s Championship but he will likely be riding at Bangor-on-Dee while the 2022 Grand National is taking place.
Brian Hughes has contested the Grand National in the past but he has fallen at the first on four occasions, including whilst aboard Vicente in 2016. This runner subsequently won the Scottish Grand National the following weekend but Hughes wasn’t in the saddle for it.
Nevertheless while this year’s Grand National is taking place, Hughes will almost certainly be in the saddle at Bangor-on-Dee. With the jockey having soared 89 winners clear of his closest rival, Hughes will be crowned champion for a second time in 23rd April.
The jockey’s agent, Richard Hale said: “At Cheltenham we couldn’t get a ride. People have their own jockeys. If they have got good horses, they are not going to change the jockeys. It’s not easy to get on a good one. This year’s National is full of Irish-trained horses. Willie Mullins has what, 10 to 12 jockeys riding out for him. If he could get on a fancied one, he would be there like a shot. It’s the race you want to win as a jockey.”
From eight rides, Hughes has only completed the Grand National once but despite this poor record he won over the obstacles on Always Waining in the Topham Chase in 2010. He now sits just 11 wins short of the 200 mark, an amazing accomplishment which only Peter Scudamore, AP McCoy and Richard Johnson have thus far managed.
He managed a double at Wetherby yesterday and is priced at odds-on to surpass the double century.
