'This is for him' - Brian Hughes gains emotional win on The Real Whacker for Graham Lee

Brian Hughes was choked with emotion as The Real Whacker hit his bet365 Charlie Hall Chase field for six at Wetherby.

Britain's two-time champion jockey of 2022 and 2023 dedicated the success to his lifelong friend and idol Graham Lee.

A year ago this month, the 2004 Grand National-winning rider on Amberleigh House suffered a life-changing fall.

Lee, 48, was paralysed by spinal injuries he sustained in an accident before the start of a race at Newcastle.

"I visited Graham last night and said that if I won I'd dedicate the victory to him," said Hughes, after 5-1 chance The Real Whacker prevailed.

"He's putting up a good fight and hopefully this has given him a lift."

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

It is two decades since Lee registered a popular triumph on Grey Abbey in the three-mile event carrying Grade Two status.

Hughes was looking on as the Howard Johnson-trained chaser led from flagfall and jumped for fun.

And The Real Whacker was similarly spring-heeled, forcing 5-4 favourite Bravemansgame to settle for second yet again.

Riding in a quiet manner like his former weighing room colleague, Hughes let Patrick Neville's stable star pop his fences.

Wearing a red bridle to match his silks, co-owned by nightclub boss Davy Mann, The Real Whacker stayed on for a three-and-a-half length supremacy.

Neville said he had never lost faith in his 2023 hero, despite several non-completions since the memorable occasion.

"He’s our superstar and we stuck at it," the Irishman added. "We had the doubters, so we’ll deal with them, but the poor old horse never got his ground last year. Every time we went to run it was heavy. We’ll rock on from this."

Pulled up behind two-time titleholder Galopin Des Champs in a soft ground Gold Cup, The Real Whacker is a general 50-1 shot for the next edition in March.

Last year's runner-up Gerri Colombe is out to 16-1 after he finished a distant third in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Gordon Elliott's odds on shot had no more to give as Envoi Allen edged the gutsy front runner Hewick by half-a-length.

Darragh O'Keeffe was deputising for injured Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead said: "He has really stepped up and gave him a super ride."