GRAND National-winning trainer Donald McCain and three-time champion jumps jockey Brian Hughes have parted ways.
Hughes will still ride for McCain, but the trainer said ‘it’s time’ for his replacement as No1 jockey to fully take the reins.
The handler, son of Red Rum’s legendary trainer Ginger, confirmed there had been absolutely no bust-up with Hughes.
Instead, he told the Racing Post it was merely time for a change at his famed Bankhouse yard in Cheshire and that he can still call on Hughes in the future.
McCain, who won the world’s most famous race with Ballabriggs in 2011, said: “Theo is stable jockey now
“There’s been no falling out with Brian. He rode me a winner the other week and it’s all fine.
“But Theo has been second in line for long enough and we thought it was time for him to have his chance.
“Theo has been here for a surprising number of years and the only reason he’s not had the job sooner is because he’s been following a three-time champion jockey.”
Hughes was crowned top jumps jockey for the first time in the 2019-20 season, breaking up AP McCoy and Richard Johnson’s stranglehold on the title.
He regained No1 spot in 2021-22 with a huge 204 winners and backed it up the following season with 165 victories.
Hughes celebrated his 2,000th career winner at Perth in August this year, having won on the Patrick Neville-trained Dolly Dior.
McCain said the arrangement over the past couple of season, which has seen Hughes ride more for other trainers, has ‘worked for everyone’.
And he said he was looking forward to getting stuck in with Gillard, who has been based with McCain for 11 years.
Gillard, who at 6ft 3ins is one of the tallest jockeys around, said: “I’m looking forward to it.
“Not many horses have run yet because of the ground, but we’ve got some fresh faces and store horses coming through and it’s an exciting time of year.”
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