SOUTH Armagh-born Brian Hughes has only ridden three winners at the Cheltenham Festival, the third coming last season when he landed the concluding race on the Tuesday, the Listed Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase, on the Mick Channon-trained Mister Whitaker.

Hughes won the same race in 2016 on the Ian Williams-saddled Ballyalton and his first festival success was recorded two years previously when High Hawk defied odds of 33/1 to land the Grade 3 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle for the Tim Easterby yard and owner/breeder Trevor Hemmings.