 Hanagan had extended his lead to four after winning on Diggeratt at Southwell |
Paul Hanagan maintained his two-winner lead over Richard Hughes, 191-189, after the penultimate day of the pair's battle for the jockeys' championship. Hanagan took advantage of Hughes's absence to score a double from six rides at Southwell and move four clear. The pair locked horns in five races at Wolverhampton, with Hughes victorious in two races compared to Hanagan's one. And Hughes set up an exciting finale at Doncaster on Saturday by taking the last of the evening on Colour Scheme. Hanagan opened Friday's account in the 1400 GMT at Southwell when he took a blanket finish on board four-year-old Sloop Johnb (6-1) for boss Richard Fahey. The gap was then extended to four when Diggeratt (3-1) fended off odds-on favourite Lucky Punt to triumph in the 1430 at the Nottinghamshire course.  | 606: DEBATE |
Having reached his nine-meeting quota for the week, Irishman Hughes was restricted to plying his trade at the evening's action in Wolverhampton. However, in addition to the three races that had been booked earlier in the week, he picked up three bonus rides at the West Midlands course. Both Hughes, third on Johnny Hancocks, and Hanagan, another place back on Style And Panache, missed out in the 1705 as Pitkin prevailed. Replacing Neil Callan on Towy Boy in the next, though, Dublin-born Hughes drove the 7-2 favourite clear to reduce the deficit to three winners, while Hanagan, on board Ability N Delivery wound up fourth. Hanagan was back to four clear when 5-2 chance Home Office won the 1810 by half a length from Motivado, with Hughes unplaced on Valley Tiger. In a thrilling tussle, however, Hughes struck back once again with a fine ride on Pipers Piping (3-1) in the next, chasing down Hanagan's mount Kenton Street, who came fourth, and denying 11-8 favourite Collect Art. "The horse loved that he did!" Hughes enthused afterwards. "He was going so well and I let him get behind them and then we just went for it." Hughes, riding Samsons Son, and Hanagan, on Beetuna, could only manage fourth and fifth respectively in the 1910, as Pelham Crescent took the honours. And, with Hanagan's racing over for the day, Hughes struck on hot favourite Colour Scheme in the concluding race to ensure an intriguing final day of the Flat season at Doncaster, where both men will jockey seven runners. "The battle will go right down to the last race," predicted Hanagan, while Hughes declared: "It's all to play for and I'm not giving up."
SATURDAY'S RIDES AT DONCASTER RICHARD HUGHES (189)
Ceffyl Gwell 1215
Fettuccine 1250
Expose 1325
Thats A Fret 1400
Middle Club 1435
Senate 1510
Croisultan 1540 PAUL HANAGAN (191)
Vantaa 1215
Iceblast 1250
No Poppy 1325
Justonefortheroad 1400
Les Fazzani 1435
Tepmokea 1510
Kaldoun Kingdom 1540
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