Reigning champ Hughes rides 3 for Lambe at Hexham The National Hunt Jockeys Championship battle cross-channel moves on to Hexham, Southwell and Ludlow today with Harry Skelton (126 winners), Brian Hughes (129 winners) and Harry Cobden (117 winners) all in action. It should chiefly concern Skelton (about a 4/6 chance) and Hughes (11/8 approximately) according to the betting, with Cobden around a 30/1 shot on Betfair. County Armagh native Hughes, the current champion, is at Hexham, where his mounts include three Northern Irish raiders. James Lambe sends across the three from his Dungannon, County Tyrone base, Kasakh Noir (2.10), Bearhill (5.20) and Ironhill (5.50). Kasakh Noir, owned by Richie Behan and Orla Cleary-O’Kane, is prominent in the market for the opening handicap hurdle. Bearhill and Ironhill meanwhile both represent Wilson Dennison, and this pair go in either divide of the bumper. On paper Skelton has a stronger book of rides at Southwell, whilst Cobden has just the two mounts at Ludlow.
