Under-fire jockey Richard Hughes hits back at critics: I ride for owners

Mick Channon's filly, who faces 12 rivals, including five trained by Aidan O'Brien headed by Johnny Murtagh-ridden Kitty Matcham, looked unlucky in the English Guineas when a run on the rails that looked like it could carry her to victory was blocked as she finished fifth to Natagora.

Irish bid: Hughes out to atone on Nahoodh

Richard Hughes has warned revenge for Nahoodh in tomorrow's Boylesports Irish 1,000 Guineas may not be as straightforward as some think.

Mick Channon's filly, who faces 12 rivals, including five trained by Aidan O'Brien headed by Johnny Murtagh-ridden Kitty Matcham, looked unlucky in the English Guineas when a run on the rails that looked like it could carry her to victory was blocked as she finished fifth to Natagora.

Bookies make Nahoodh 2-1 favourite ahead of Saoirse Abu, the Jim Bolger-trained filly, who finished two places ahead of her at Newmarket.

Further back in ninth and 10th were the O'Brien pair Kitty Matcham and Savethisdanceforme, who also line up.

But Hughes said: "I was unlucky in the end and, if I had got the run up the rail, I would have won. But if had been going well three furlongs out I would have made my way out and gone around them. I wasn't going well enough to go anywhere. I had to go the shortest route because I was flat to the boards. The Curragh is a more galloping track which should definitely suit."

Nahoodh will try to give Channon the first Classic of his career and success would also be a first for Hughes in his homeland.

His three previous European Classics have all been in France - Zenda (2002 French 1,000), Nebraska Tornado (2003 French Oaks), American Post (2004 French 2,000) - during his retainer to Khaled Abdullah that ended after seven seasons last year.

"I'm due one. I was beaten a head in the 2001 Irish Oaks on Ed Dunlop's Mot Juste when she was beaten by stablemate Lailani," Hughes said.

Now freelance, the 35-year-old, backed by in-form trainer Richard Hannon, has had a fast start to the season.

His 36 wins are bettered by only Ryan Moore and Neil Callan. Ironically, at Windsor on Monday, he even substituted for the ill Moore on a runner for Sir Michael Stoute, the Abdullah trainer who refused to use Hughes in the latter stages of the retainer.

Hughes' style has its critics. Perched high in the saddle, he stands out in a crowded field. The losing betting shop brigade rail against his seeming lack of activity.

He said: "Every horse I ride, I like to let them travel. It's not that I am totally motionless, I am squeezing. Just because I am not pushing doesn't mean my horse is not going as quick as it can.

"People ride differently. Kieren Fallon, four out, he'd be pushing them but they weren't off the bridle. It's the same with me. Just because I am sitting up doesn't mean I am on the bridle, either.

"It's only punters giving out about losing their money. I ride for owners and trainers and I ride every horse to the best of my ability. I don't like hitting them or beating them when they are beaten for the sake of someone's each-way money.

"I love riding more than ever, this year being a new challenge. Until I'm 40, I'm going to give it my best. I'd like to train and I don't want to be an old man before I start."