Horse racing: Richard Hughes says he couldn’t have asked for more from the weekend after enjoying success in tw of the biggest races of the flat season.

The Collingbourne jockey came third in Sarurday’s Epsom Derby on 16/1 shot Masterofthehorse and followed it up with a win in the German 1,000 guineas on Sunday on favourite Penny’s Gift.

Hughes, 36, said while the Dusseldorf race went perfectly to plan, he thinks a first Derby victory was within his reach had things worked out differently on the day.

“I got drawn on the rails on Sunday but got into a nice, soft lead,” he said.

“We very quickly got into the front and I didn’t see another horse until after the race so it couldn’t have gone better.

“It was a great weekend all-round and I would have taken third in the derby if you’d offered it to me before the race.

“Although I would have preferred a stronger gallop in front in that race and a few of the jockeys said the same thing afterwards.”

Trainer Richard Hannon, who worked with Penny’s Gift, and Hughes also enjoyed success on Monday when the duo combined to win on Dick Turpin at Windor, but the Irishman still does not believe he can win the Flat Jockey’s Championship.

“Windsor has always been lucky for me. If I haven’t got some winners on Monday then I get a bit worried,” he laughed. “I’ll settle for second in the championship though. It would be nice but I’m under no illusions.

“There are jockeys with more firepower than me.”