Richard Hughes makes honest admission after No Half Measures springs 66-1 July Cup shock

Jockey turned trainer Richard Hughes celebrated a huge result when No Half Measures stunned the July Cup field at 66-1.

With Neil Callan riding, the longshot edged out Big Mojo (12-1) by a neck, with fellow outsider Run To Freedom (40-1) in third place.

Hughes, who was aboard 2003 hero Oasis Dream in 2003, had a brilliant career in the saddle and switched to his current role in 2015.

But his huge Newmarket success in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai feature, nearly ten years since he sent out his first runner that September, was his first at Group One level.

And he admitted: "I was naive when I started training - I thought you could buy 20 horses and it was going to be good. Then the following year was no good too! You just keep chipping away and try to do the right thing."

As a jockey, Hughes was the first since Kieren Fallon in 2003 to ride 200 winners in a season - and the naturally tall sportsman was the partner of top horses like Canford Cliffs and Paco Boy.

But he said his current job has been challenging, adding: "It's been a tough enough road to get to here. I think I'll definitely appreciate it more than if I started with a good horse early on. I wouldn't have appreciated it and I didn't appreciate all those good horses when I was riding. I just keep looking for the next one and was very fortunate in my riding career."

Hughes, 52, was advised by Ryan Moore that No Half Measures might be capable of a Group race breakthrough - but his mount Whistlejacket was well beaten as Neil Callan took all the glory at the sun-soaked course.

"I was doing my yard at home and I just got a text message the other day from Richard (Hughes) and he said 'do you want to ride in a Group One?' and I said 'yes, absolutely!'" said the rider, 47. I actually half thought 'did he mean to text me?!'

"I felt going into the dip she responded and I thought we might run top three here and when I twirled it and gave her a flick I thought we can win here!

"It's surreal because I'm getting into the twilight of my career. My son Jack is starting and I'm getting a lot of flak saying I've getting give up. He was with Kevin Ryan yesterday and my old boss Kevin telling me I've got to retire so this one's for you, Kev!"