Hanagan strikes again with victory at Pontefract

The Paul Hanagan bandwagon continues to roll on as Majestic Myles just lasted home in the Dianne Nursery at Pontefract.

Fresh from partnering the final winner at Ripon's evening meeting on Monday, Hanagan needed to get pretty serious on the 4-9 favourite, trained by his boss Richard Fahey.

Having got a dream run up the rail, Majestic Myles appeared to have the race in safe keeping but 20-1 chance Witzend made him pull out all the stops in the final 100 yards, closing to within a neck.

Hanagan said: "It's a nice way to start the day. He was carrying a lot of weight for a two-year-old (9st 12lb) and he was feeling it at the end because he was pricking his ears and idling a bit."

Robin O'Ryan, Fahey's assistant, added: "I think we'll give him a break now and freshen him up. The handicapper won't take kindly to him winning three out of four.

"He's done his job for the moment though so we'll see what's next."

Hanagan took further advantage of the fact that neither Richard Hughes nor Ryan Moore, his closest rivals in the battle for the championship, had any mounts today by doubling up on Monkton Vale in the Yorkshire Racing Summer Festival Handicap.

The 15-8 favourite was bounced out into an early lead and steadily wound up the pace from half a mile out.

As Sadler's Mark began to feel the pinch at the furlong pole, it was River Ardeche who threw down the biggest challenge but the post came too soon and he went down by a neck.

"That's the Hanagan factor, he's riding out of his skin," said O'Ryan.

"They both wanted it and I think he was pricking his ears at the end so he might have had a bit left."

Hanagan added: "He was pricking his ears at the end and he picked up again when the other horse came at him. He was very game."

In what was quickly turning into the Hanagan show, he made it a treble on Kevin Ryan's Perfect Blossom in the Harworth Estates Handicap.

Formerly trained by Ian McInnes, the filly has thrived since moving to Hambleton and was winning her third race in just four starts for Ryan as the 11-4 favourite.

In what looked an identical ride to the previous two, Hanagan kicked early in the straight to gain a three-length advantage and hung on to hold off Jack Luey by three-quarters of a length.

Joe O'Gorman, representing Ryan, said: "She's very tough and she's improving quickly.

"She does everything to please you. She didn't get six furlongs at Leicester so we'll keep her to five and she's very fast."