Hanagan back among winners

Jockey Paul Hanagan, who returned to action yesterday after serving suspensions totalling 20 days, was back in the winner’s circle after steering Golden Legacy to an easy victory in the Levy Board Maiden Stakes at Catterick today.

Golden Legacy was sent off at 4-9 after running with credit in Listed company at Royal Ascot, and she always looked likely to score as she travelled comfortably in third place behind Mary Gray and Rasa Sayang.

The leaders moved apart early in the straight and Hanagan sent Richard Fahey’s juvenile through the gap. She strode readily clear to beat Rasa Sayang by two and a half lengths, with the winner’s stable companion, Choreographic, the same distance back in third.

“I’m delighted for the filly,” said Fahey. “I think she’ll be badly handicapped, so we just might go back to Listed company with her.

“She’s won a race now so I think we’ll try and get some black type.”

Hanagan, who was riding his 30th winner of the season, was banned for 18 of his 20 days for not keeping a straight course leaving the stalls, and Fahey added: “He kept straight for the first 250 yards today.”