Richard Hughes welcomes change to British champion jockey race

Richard Hughes described the new initiative to crown a champion jockey between the Guineas meeting in May and the Qipco British Champions Day in October as "good progress".

The current champion has declared his intention to go all out to win a fourth crown in what will be his final season in the saddle before he starts a training career.

Announced by Great British Racing, the changes to the jockeys' championship have been devised to make a title charge less of a grind for its participants, and to "provide a more compelling storyline for new and existing racing fans".

For the first time, the champion jockey will also be rewarded financially, with £25,000 for the winner.

There will also be prizes for the runner-up, leading apprentice and jockey of the month, which will be run in association with Channel 4 Racing.

“This is good progress and I will be all out to win a fourth successive championship this year under the new format before I retire,” said Hughes.

“Anything which helps to raise the profile of the sport and is of benefit for the weighing room I’m all for.

“Over the last 30 years, the number of racedays has almost doubled and the sheer volume of racing has meant that the title battle is a real grind. That it now covers the core summer racing season means that it will be less of a slog for the lads . . .”