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RHYS HUGHES: pictured on Warsaw Pact
photo: Alun Sedgmore

Welsh Rider Rhys Hughes shares his thoughts on Denman, Bob Bites Back and the Rocky films in the latest 'Pilots in Profile'.

Rhys Hughes is the reigning Welsh champion who last season finished fourth in the national title race. At the start of the current campaign he had 63 Point-to-Point successes under his belt. During the summer he buys ponies from the sales and breaks them in before selling them on.

Date of birth: 10th January 1982.

Marital status: Engaged to Natalie and soon to be wed, so watch this space! We have been together for 12 years and have finally decided to tie the knot. For those of you wondering where your invites are, rest assured that I will be the last to know the details, but I promise at least a week's notice (hopefully)!!

Job or profession: Assistant trainer to Tim Vaughan.

Are you from a racing background? If not, how did you get started in Point-to-Pointing? Neither of my parents has even the slightest interest in horses. My dad worked for the Gas Board and my mother in a local factory. At the age of six I showed an interest in ponies and my dad bought me one for my seventh birthday. Through the Pony Club and hunting I developed a hunger for competing, and the rest, as they say, is history.

What was your first ride in public? It was on a horse called Deep Isle in the 1999 Brecon & Talybont Mens Open. We finished last, over two fences behind the winner. He was bought for me by my parents - he was as slow as a boat but he took great care of me.

First winner - name the horse, Owner & Trainer, the date & the course: Beauchamp Oracle, owned by Mr & Mrs Everall and trained by Steve Flook, in the 20-runner Ledbury Restricted at Maisemore Park in 2004. What can I say? I had waited a very long time for a winner and was starting to believe it would never happen. It was actually picked up as a spare ride from Dave Mansell, who was committed to Raymond James in the race - it pulled up. Cheers mate!

Apart from the first winner, what has been your most memorable ride? Winning the Dunraven Bowl at Chepstow last April on Bob Bites Back. He is a horse that I think a great deal of, and it was a fantastic result for his owner, 90-year-old Edna Hussey. Both horse and owner are incredible!

Is there a ride you look back on and think "could have done better?" I try not to focus on what could have been. I think in this sport there will always be occasions where you think "what if," but that can really get you down.

For which trainers to you mainly ride? Robert Scrine, Tim and Abbi Vaughan (Tim's wife Abbi trains Pointers) and Robert Luke.

Who has been most influential on your riding career so far? Robert Scrine, for giving me such amazing horses to ride. I have received lots of advice from many people during my career, for which I'm grateful, but I think that in order to be a good jockey it pays to have some great horses as ammunition.

Which are your favourite courses? And for what reasons? I love Ystradowen - it's a course where I've had great success over the years. For years I have taken horses to school around the course so I have got to know it pretty well. I also like Pentreclwydau, home to the Banwen Miners. I'm a great supporter of Point-to-Pointing in Wales!

What car do you drive? A Vauxhall Vectra. Natalie refuses to let me buy my dream car (an Audi) as I am known for running my cars into the ground and ruining them. I am sure that many Point-to-Point jockeys can relate to this!

Name your perfect night in and perfect night out: A good night in is when I get to have the children on my own. We've got three - Kristian aged 10, three-year-old Oliver, and Aneira, who's just two. With my racing and work commitments I don't get much chance to spend quality time with them. My children are my world, though it helps if I have a Chinese and a few bottles as well!!

A night out? What's one of those??

Where do you like to go on holiday? Somewhere hot. Preferably NOT Disneyland - I am only just recovering from the last time!

Who would be your ideal travelling companions to the races? My father, as it means he will drive. Although I wouldn't kick out Leona Lewis if she needed a lift.

What's currently on your iPod? Nothing. I wouldn't even know how to turn one on!

What are your favourite films and TV programmes? I love my soaps on TV. My favourite films are the Rocky films. My uncle David Gardiner ran a gym when I was growing up and I would spend lots of time there, sparring and training - I fancied myself as the Italian stallion!

What has been either your own funniest incident, or the most amusing thing you have seen or heard at the races? The one moment that sticks in my mind was at the Llangeinor two years ago, when Gwyn Marsh, a childhood mate of mine, and Dean Coleman had me bent double. Dean was riding a horse called Withington and was well clear when it blundered him out of the saddle at the last, leaving Gwyn in pole position. Gwyn had the race in the bag until his horse, Billy Lane, decided to spook on the run-in and shipped him out of the side door. As the next horse was approaching the last Gwyn could be seen running alongside Billy Lane and frantically trying to remount, which he managed to do at the last minute, thus recording his first winner. The atmosphere that day was amazing - we were all so chuffed for Gwyn. We got a great kick out of ribbing him afterwards!

Who are your biggest heroes in racing? I have great admiration for Richard Johnson, while Tony McCoy is a legend.

Which particular horse (in any discipline) would you like to ride? Denman - he's my type of horse. I like to get a horse into a rhythm and let him bowl along, and Denman does that better than any.

Apart from race-riding, in what other sports do you participate? I compete in hunter trials and cross-country on Natalie's horse Majestas. I bought him for Natalie four years ago and he has turned into a fantastic all-rounder, although poor Natalie often has trouble finding the brakes! I am made to watch various showing contests and dressage tests, but on these occasions I take the role of groom!

Do you have any regrets in your riding career to date? Not turning conditional. It is one thing I wish I had done.

What ambitions do you have in racing? To ride over the Grand National fences at Aintree.

What is your opinion on December racing? I don't think we have really had much luck to date with the weather etc, so will reserve my judgement for a while on that.

What are your opinions on the changes in Point-to-Pointing in recent years, and what changes do you think would benefit the sport in the future? There should be stricter regulations on who can qualify for a Rider's licence. I think that the quality of both horses and races has improved, but there are still a lot of unnecessary accidents occurring through careless riding.

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