Hanagan stretches lead but remains grounded

But, even after a 73-1 treble at Redcar yesterday that took his season’s tally to 163, the reigning champion was not taking anything for granted as his great Yorkshire rival dashed back from Australia to launch a final charge.

Both riders are in action today at Nottingham and Kempton – Hanagan has 11 scheduled rides while jetlagged de Sousa has 14 mounts – before tomorrow’s double-header at Southwell and Wolverhampton. They will also travel by helicopter between meetings to maximise their opportunities.

Compared to 12 months ago when the pursuing Richard Hughes reduced the pacesetter’s lead to one winner with two days remaining, Malton-based Hanagan has one hand on the title that will be presented at Doncaster on Saturday.

Leeds-based Sky Bet certainly think so – they started honouring bets on Hanagan to be champion after Personal Touch survived a stewards’ inquiry before Elspeth’s Boy prevailed in a driving finish.

Coral followed suit after Hanagan completed his hat-trick on Rose Of Sarratt to virtually seal the title.

But Hanagan told the Yorkshire Post: “I don’t think it is over. I just want to keep doing the same thing.

“I’m not going to give up until it is mathematically impossible to be caught.

“Although I’m only just getting over last year, I know how quickly things can change. It’s a nice lead but I’ve been in this game long enough to know I’ve got to keep my feet on the floor.”

As well as the title, the winning rider will receive the Cock o’ the North cap that is presented by the Yorkshire Post and Racing For Change to the region’s most successful jockey.

As Hanagan extended his lead, Kieren Fallon – the six-times champion who briefly threatened the title-holder – was conceding defeat. He gave up his rides yesterday because of illness and flies to America today for the two-day Breeders’ Cup meeting which begins on Friday at Churchill Downs.

Another international dimension to the battle for domestic supremacy saw de Sousa fly back from Australia after partnering Mark Johnston’s Royal Ascot hero Fox Hunt to a creditable seventh-place finish in the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

The first of the four Yorkshire-trained runners to pass the Flemington winning post, this was a truly astonishing race as French stayer Dunaden prevailed by the narrowest winning margin in the race’s 151-year history.

It took four agonising minutes to settle the photo finish, with just two pixels on the freeze-frame image separating the victor from Ed Dunlop’s Red Cadeaux, who was fourth in the Pontefract Castle Stakes in June.

It is testament to the popularity of Pontefract’s long-distance races that the racecourse can attract horses of this calibre.

There was also a Yorkshire connection to the winner – Dunaden’s trainer Mikel Delzangles, who won last year’s 2000 Guineas with Mafki, began his career under the watchful eye of the late, great Jimmy Fitzgerald near Malton.

Several held chances as the field rounded the final bend and both Red Cadeaux and Dunaden opted for the slingshot approach around the outside.

This was the second successive French-trained winner after Americain’s triumph 12 months ago – the defending champion was fourth.

“It’s amazing. I thought I was beaten so it’s even better,” said Delzangles.

“We knew he was a good stayer, but I thought the race was so difficult to win. Maybe thanks to Americain, it made us realise that it was possible to do it.”

While there was sympathy for Dunlop, the man who experienced the greatest loss was jockey Craig Williams. He partnered Dunaden to victory in the Geelong Cup, but picked up a careless riding ban subsequently which ultimately saw him lose the ride to French jockey Christophe Lemaire after 11th-hour appeals failed.

“I wasn’t supposed to ride him and didn’t know until yesterday. Craig must be devastated and I hope he will win many more big races,” Lemaire admitted.

“Two years ago I had a fall before Arc weekend and I missed winning four Group One races so I know what it is like to watch in your armchair. Unfortunately it’s part of a jockey’s life.”

Dunlop had no real bitterness as he surveyed Red Cadeaux. “I thought he wouldn’t like the ground and with a little more juice he’d have beaten the other horse,” he said. “If he’s okay, we’ll be back next year.”

Brian Ellison’s Ebor winner Moyenne Corniche and Saptapadi could muster no better than 15th and 16th respectively, although they did beat Mark Johnston’s second runner Jukebox Jury, who was 20th.

However, de Sousa was rueful after Fox Hunt finished seventh for the Middleham trainer. “He has had a long season and felt a bit flat,” he said.

It is a phrase indicative of the jockey’s exertions – he returns to Britain today after 970 rides this season, and a career-best 155 wins, to discover that his great rival Paul Hanagan now has an almost unassailable lead in the jockeys’ title race.

[email protected]