Hanagan back on top

Paul Hanagan reclaimed the outright lead at the top of the jockeys' championship with a typically power-packed ride on Premier Clarets in the Spindrifter Conditions Stakes at Pontefract.

The 29-year-old has enjoyed a tremendous first half of the season as stable jockey to Richard Fahey and the pair teamed up to take the feature race at the sun-drenched West Yorkshire venue.

At the start of the day, Hanagan was level on 68 wins with champion Ryan Moore, who is currently suspended, with Richard Hughes on 66.

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Having ridden his second Royal Ascot winner a short while ago on Marine Commando, Hanagan is beginning to get recognition south of Wetherby and will be hoping to take full advantage of Moore's absence as he shot straight to Musselburgh after his victory.

Kevin Ryan's previously unbeaten Drawing Board made a bold bid from the front, but Hanagan got the 10-11 favourite up close home to win by a neck.

''He was very gutsy for me because he doesn't want the ground that quick,'' said Hanagan.

''It's nice to be back top of the table again.''

Fahey's assistant, Robin O'Ryan, added: ''Where he'll go next will be ground dependent, the uphill finish helped him, but we've not got a specific target in mind.''

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Alan Tattersall, one of the owners involved in The Matthewman Partnership, added: ''Paul was the difference there, if he wasn't on it I'd have been a bit worried.

''There are not many jockeys better in a finish than him at the moment.''

Andy Price saddled his first winner of the season when Pretty Bonnie made all in the EBF Park Suite Fillies' Handicap in the hands of Natalia Gemelova. It was a case of ladies first and second as Pretty Bonnie (5-1) was forced to hold off the late lunge of Kirsty Milczarek on Misplaced Fortune, who just failed to reel in the leader by a head.

Price said: ''That's the first time she's made the running but it wasn't the plan, it was just how it turned out. She always finds plenty for pressure and deserved that as she hadn't won for over a year."

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Mark Johnston's Jukebox Jury features among 13 remaining entries in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday.

The grey struggled in the Coronation Cup and Hardwicke Stakes but could drop in trip against the likes of Dar Re Mi, Twice Over, Mawatheeq and a six-strong team from Ballydoyle.