Down to the wire as Hanagan and Hughes battle for glory
Paul Hanagan and Richard Hughes are still separated by just two winners with only one meeting of the season remaining at Doncaster this afternoon.
Hanagan, who began with an advantage of 188 – 186 winners, was in double form at Southwell’s afternoon fixture to stretch his lead to four.
In a nice touch both were provided by his boss, Richard Fahey, and that was not all he gave to his jockey as the Malton handler also sorted out the helicopter to take him from Southwell to Wolverhampton.
Sloop Johnb (6-1) was his first strike in the Bet Asian Handicaps – Betdaq Handicap. It was a narrow victory, a head was the official verdict, but a valuable one.
Fahey’s Diggeratt (3-1) followed up in Bet Multiples – Betdaq Claiming Stakes to put Hanagan right back in the driving seat.
The fun and games at Dunstall Park did not really kick off until the fourth race when Hughes partnered Towy Boy (7-2 favourite) to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Live Only On ATR Handicap.
Hughes said: “That was the start of it I hope!”
However, Hanagan struck back immediately when partnering Mark Johnston’s Home Office (5-2) in the Hotel & Conferencing At Wolverhampton Maiden Stakes, who beat Motivado fairly comfortably.
It is Hughes who heads into the final day with the momentum, however, as he struck back on Paul Howling’s Pipers Piping (3-1) in the attheraces.com/breederscup Handicap.
Hanagan was without a ride in the finale and added: “It’s been a very long day and there’s nothing more I can do now. The battle will go right down to the last race tomorrow.”
For once the final race went according to plan as riding the 11-10 favourite, Hughes cruised home on Brian Meehan’s Colour Scheme in the Breeders’ Cup Live Only On ATR Maiden Stakes.
The Irishman concluded in true understated style: “It’s all to play for and I’m not giving up.”
At the close of play Hanagan’s tally is 191 with Hughes just two behind on 189 and both jockeys have seven booked rides at Doncaster.
