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Goodwood review: Relief for Hughes as Gibeon strikes

Richard Hughes, riding Gibeon, scoots clear to win the Land Rover Stakes at Goodwood
Image: Richard Hughes, riding Gibeon, scoots clear to win the Land Rover Stakes at Goodwood

A round-up of the rest of Thursday's action from Glorious Goodwood as Richard Hughes opened his account for the meeting.

Richard Hughes can "retire a happy man" after opening his account at this year's Glorious Goodwood on Gibeon in the Land Rover Stakes.

The champion jockey bows out on Saturday to begin a training career and after a couple of frustrating near-misses on the first two days of the meeting, he looked destined to go without at his favourite track.

Sent off 11/1, Gibeon, trained by Hughes's brother-in-law Richard Hannon, just held off the fast finish of Frankie Dettori on 4/1 favourite Keble by a neck.

All the jockeys were wearing black armbands as a tribute to Sir Peter O'Sullevan, who passed away on Wednesday.

"I'm glad I've got one, I can retire a happy man now," said Hughes.

"It's been a bit frustrating the first couple of days, but I can relax now."

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Hannon said: "It's great for Hughesie to get one and the horse travelled really well, he always does."

Hannon's father, Richard snr, said: "When we'll miss him is on a morning, he could tell straight away if he was sat on a nice one so I'm sure he'll make a go of training.

"I might send him one or two, I'm quite a good owner!"

Andrea Atzeni secured a double when Roger Varian"s Notary (5-4 favourite) just held off Mark Johnston's newcomer Anabel in the EBF British Stallion Studs New Ham Maiden Fillies' Stakes, swiftly followed by the success of Mick Channon's Jaadu (12-1) in the Telegraph Nursery.

Mick Channon jnr said: "We'll see what the handicapper does, we won't get too sexy at this stage as he's a big unit with a future."

Johnston notched his second winner of the week when Indescribable (18-1) won in a blanket finish to the Tatler Stakes which also included stablemates Showstoppa and Midlander.

"They must have been going very fast as Showstoppa was off the bridle at halfway," said Johnston.

"James (Doyle) said he was always pretty comfortable and he stuck his neck out where it mattered.

"He's been declared on Saturday and we'll leave him down here and see how he is."

The win gave Doyle the joint-lead with Atzeni in the Racing UK-sponsored top jockey award for the week on three, but he is not riding at the track on Saturday.

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