Hanagan hanging on after helicopter grounds Hughes

Starting proceedings three behind the long-time leader, Hughes travelled to Nottingham in the afternoon for seven rides, making just Spring Secret count in the B&M Installations Handicap to reduce the arrears.

While Malton rider Hanagan was not in action at a murky Colwick Park, the pair were due to go head-to-head under the floodlights at Kempton yesterday evening.

However, adverse weather conditions forced helicopter problems for Hughes and he failed to make it to Sunbury for any of his six booked rides, having been left with an ultimately futile attempt to travel by road.

The only consolation for Hughes was that none of his intended mounts got home in front, and Hanagan never really looked like extending his lead.

The title race continues today at Lingfield and Kempton, with Hanagan and Hughes in action at both venues. Hanagan will start the day on 186 winners to Hughes on 184.

Hughes had originally been precluded from riding tomorrow as he would have completed his quota of nine meetings for the seven-day period from Saturday under the British Horseracing Authority-imposed threshold.

Events culminate at Doncaster on Saturday, when Hughes will forego the big ride on Paco Boy at the Breeders' Cup in America to give himself every chance of overhauling Hanagan in South Yorkshire.

MALCOLM JEFFERSON has blamed a pulled muscle for Cape Tribulation's below-par effort at Carlisle on Sunday.

Having been rated in the 150s over hurdles and made a winning start to his fencing career at Hexham, the six-year-old jumped markedly left and was pulled up five fences from home.

"He pulled a muscle in his hindquarters and has obviously done it early in the race," said the Malton trainer.

"He was hanging left all the way round but we know why now and it didn't take a lot of finding.

"We had him at the vets this morning and he has to go back in a week's time to assess him again. He could be out for three weeks or so."

Jefferson enjoyed better luck at Wetherby on Saturday with the exciting Gilbarry making a winning debut over fences and talented mare Issaquah running second to Donald McCain's Alegralil in a Listed hurdle.

"Gilbarry came out of the race in good nick, he jumped well and did everything right," added Jefferson.

"We'll have a look and see what there is for him now.

"Issaquah ran a blinder and I know Donald thinks quite a lot of the winner. She's in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham."