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HUGHES CROWNED CHAMPION JOCKEY

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Richard Hughes was officially crowned champion Flat jockey for 2012 in a champagne-splashed ceremony at Doncaster.

Achieving a life-long ambition, Hughes had the title in safe-keeping for some weeks after building up an unassailable lead over Silvestre de Sousa and third-placed William Buick.

Ryan Moore was fourth in an injury-hit campaign, with Paul Hanagan, winner for the last two years, having to settle for fifth place this time in a year in which he became retained rider to Hamdan Al Maktoum.

ZARKANDAR UP WITH HURDLING ELITE

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Zarkandar fuelled his claims for the Champion Hurdle and surprised trainer Paul Nicholls when outpointing stablemate Prospect Wells in the totepool.com Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

Fifth in last season's Champion and subsequently a faller at Aintree, the diminutive five-year-old (100-30) showed with a determined display under Daryl Jacob that, in a tight situation, class will out.

It was a perfect start to the campaign for Jacob, who because Ruby Walsh is expected to ride Hurricane Fly throughout the season, is set to be aboard Zarkandar for all his races.