Hanagan joy means woe for Fahey
Paul Hanagan got one over on his boss Richard Fahey when Abandon defeated Flying Clarets in a pulsating finish to the feature race at Pontefract.
The highly-rated jockey was replaced on the latter by Jamie Moriarty, who was booked to shed 5lb off the top weight in the Ladbrokes Fillies’ Handicap.
Fahey’s loss was William Haggas’ gain, however, as Abandon benefited from a powerful ride to narrowly prevail in the red and white silks of Cheveley Park Stud.
Sent off at 4-1 on her seasonal bow, the Rahy chestnut showed real guts to repel Flying Clarets by a short head.
“She’s a well-bred filly and when they are well-bred they often improve,” Haggas said of Abandon, who has now won three races on the spin.
“She was given a very good ride and I’d like to use him (Hanagan) more often.
“That was a hard race though, so I imagine she’ll have a rest now.”
Moriarty suffered a further blow after the stewards suspended him for one day (May 14) for using his whip in the incorrect place.
There was another exciting finish to the 32Red plc Handicap, which went the way of the Mark Tompkins-trained Sonara
The well-supported 9-2 chance demonstrated a willing attitude in the hands of Jimmy Quinn to defeat My Secrets – conceding a stone to the winner – by a head.
“That was my first winner of the year,” revealed Tompkins. “But the horses have been running well and we’ve had plenty of placed finishes.”
Of Sonara, the Newmarket-based handler added: “He ran well from a very bad draw at Nottingham last time, but the mile and a half today suited him.”
Brian Ellison’s concerns about the ground being too quick for Malinsa Blue were allayed when the mare battled to victory in the skybet.com Handicap.
The 10-1 shot edged into pole position turning for home and doggedly stuck to her guns to hold off Pab Special by a length.
“She’s in at Beverley next week but I wouldn’t want to keep her running when the ground is like that,” said Ellison, whose charge had not won since autumn 2004.
El Dececy (9-2) made virtually every yard en route to an easy success in the totesport.com Maiden Stakes.
John Dunlop’s colt never looked like relinquishing the soft lead afforded to him by his rivals and had five lengths in hand over Officer at the line.
Robbie Fitzpatrick, rider of the unplaced Ranavalona, was hit with a one-day suspension (May 14) for using his whip in the incorrect place.
Cee Bargara (9-4 favourite) recovered from a tardy start to win the opening EBF betfred.com Maiden Stakes.
Tom Queally’s mount dwelt from the stalls but soon found a fluent rhythm and dissected runner-up Irving Place and Barraland inside the last to score by a length and a half.
Just Observing (12-1) survived a lengthy photo-finish before being awarded the Friends Of The Northern Racing College Handicap.
Paul Midgley’s gelding clung on by the shortest of heads from Sin City, ridden by Hanagan and trained by the unlucky Fahey.
