Fantastic achievement

Congratulations to Brian Hughes who partnered his 200th winner of the 2021/22 National Hunt season when pushing out Dreams of Home to a half length win in the two miles handicap chase at Perth on Wednesday. 102 of the 200 were trained by Donald McCain and the pair have been a formidable combination this winter. Donald himself was equalling his personal best with 153 winners. Whilst working for Racing TV and during various preview nights, I have got to know Brian well and he has always been the same - very approachable and helpful. He works hard and deserves all the success he gets.

Dreams of Home is featured in the Top 40 Prospects in One Jump Ahead and it was good to see him back to form. A winner at Ayr earlier in the season, he was disappointing on his next three starts before appearing to run out of stamina at Haydock last time. Dropped back to the minimum trip and ridden positively at Perth, he stayed on dourly after the last to withstand the late challenge of Coach Carter. The Top 40 have been in good form of late with Iron Bridge making it two from two over hurdles at Worcester on Tuesday evening. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding probably found the ground lively enough but his connections were keen for the ex-Irish gelding to get more experience before he goes chasing in the Autumn. It was his first run since October.