Brian Hughes has been named Champion Jockey for the first time, following the premature ending of the National Hunt season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The British Horseracing Authority confirmed on Monday that the current standings would be used to determine the traditional end-of-season awards, with Nicky Henderson earning his sixth Champion Trainer crown, regaining the prize he lost to long-term rival Paul Nicholls last season.
The titles are not usually handed out until Sandown’s Jumps Finale meeting at the end of April, but the Jumps shutdown was extended until July 1 earlier this week, with authorities hoping that the Flat season may be able to begin behind closed doors in May.
Hughes was leading four-time defending champion Richard Johnson by 19 winners when British racing was initially halted by the virus outbreak shortly after the Cheltenham Festival last month. He becomes the first man other than Johnson or the legendary AP McCoy to win the title since Richard Dunwoody in 1995.
Henderson, meanwhile, edged Nicholls by just shy of £200,000, a significant but far from insurmountable gap, given the valuable prizes at Sandown and, in particular, Aintree that would have still been up for grabs.
Key to his success were Champion Hurdle winner Epatante and RSA hero Champ, while Gold Cup second Santini also weighed in a significant contribution.
Given the colours worn by the former pair, it was no surprise to see JP McManus once again named Champion Owner, with double Grade One winner Defi Du Seuil also key to his success.
Jonjo O’Neil Jr. was named Champion Conditional Jockey after a season in which the highlight was partnering former Gold Cup winner Native River victory in the Denman Chase.
