Brian Hughes is odds-on to become only the fourth jump jockey in history to ride 200 winners in a season.
The Ulsterman is on target to become champion for the second occasion in three years and he made it 150 winners for the first time after completing an 83-1 four-timer at Carlisle on Monday.
Hughes, now 67 winners ahead of his nearest rival Sam Twiston-Davies, partnered Skyhill, Lady Tremaine, Mackenberg and Maximilian – the latter three for Donald McCain.
Richard Hale, Hughes’s agent for the past 17 years, said: “I want to get him to 200. When he got to 100, I told him, if you ride 20 every month now, you’ll get there.”
Peter Scudamore, AP McCoy and Richard Johnson are the only jump jockeys to have banked over 200 winners in a season.
William Hill make him 4-7 to join that elite band.
Spokesman Rupert Adams said: “Brian Hughes has been in a league of his own this season and it’s only a matter of time before he’s crowned champion.”
After winning the title two years ago, Hughes was denied a big celebration on the final day of the season at Sandown due to the sport being shut down by the pandemic.
But he should get the credit he deserves when the season ends on April 23.
“It’s all about getting on the best horses,” Hughes told Racing TV.
“I don’t seek any fanfare. If it is going to be that way then hopefully my family, Luci and the kids, can be there. They deserve credit too as I can focus on racing.
“Luci takes care of everything else and my sister does a lot for me too. I literally do nothing. It just leaves me to ride horses.”
David Bass was another rider to reach a milestone on Monday when he rode his 500th winner on Le Cameleon in the Virgin Bet Handicap Chase at Fontwell.
