Richard Hughes to retire at the end of the season

Richard Hughes celebrating on board Sky Lantern after their QIPCO 1000 Guineas success in 2013. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Three-time Champion Jockey and top Series rider Richard Hughes has announced that he will retire from the saddle at the end of the season.

The 42-year-old, who won his first British Classic on board Sky Lantern in the 2013 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, is currently completing his training badges to become a trainer in 2016.

Hughes’s Series highlights include winning the Investec Oaks on the aptly-named Talent in 2013, riding King’s Stand Stakes and Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes champion Sole Power to victory in 2014, as well as coming out on top in the titanic ‘Duel on the Downs’ battle with Toronado at Glorious Goodwood in 2013.  

Son of top Jumps trainer Dessie Hughes, who died in November last year, Hughes also recorded QIPCO British Champions Day success in 2013 on Olympic Glory when winning the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

However, despite still being able to compete at the top level, Hughes believes now is the right time to retire.

He told the Press Association: "I’m really looking forward to it. I’m confident I can do a job and wouldn’t be heading in that direction if I didn’t think I could do it.

"I’m very comfortable with the position.

"It’s going to be a sad day going into the weighing room for the last time, but I’m not going to retire because I’m going downhill. My full commitment is to ride this year.

"Last year was my best season, and Richard Hannon is going to have horses to look forward to for the next 10 years, but now is the right time."

Despite being linked to a move to Ken Cunningham-Brown’s stables in Stockbridge, Hampshire, Hughes is yet to confirm where he is likely to begin his training career.