Relaxed champion Hanagan now setting his sights on Classic target

He has much to be thoughtful about. Can he defend his jockeys’ title? And can Wootton Bassett, the mercurial horse that he is riding, deliver Classic glory for him and trainer Richard Fahey?

After a minor training setback, this fabulous colt, one of the ante-post favourites for the 2000 Guineas, has just completed his first ‘serious’ gallop of the year.

“That was good,” says this most understated of riders as the three-year-old horse is hosed down by Fahey while he looks for any tell-tale signs of muscle weakness.

The trainer concurs. “It’s a start, I think,” he says.

With the 2011 Flat campaign having a low-key start at Catterick on Wednesday – “I don’t think I have anything bad enough to run, it’s a depressing meeting,” says Fahey – many people will be watching to see if Hanagan, 30, can repeat his championship heroics of last year.

He is unperturbed. A title, he says, can only be won if you are in a position to do so – and it means having a supportive stable with sufficient horsepower. “If it happens, it happens, but I don’t like making bold claims – you come unstuck.”

It is why his 2011 prospects are far more likely to be determined by this ‘work’ morning, galloping horses up Musley Bank on Malton’s outskirts, rather than on a racecourse in the near future.

Walking purposefully into the tack room just before 7.0am, there are no special privileges or exemptions from duty.

Yet, as he saddles up his first mount – an unnamed filly – Fahey speaks with warmth about how fame has not changed the jockey who joined his stable as a 17-year-old.

“You can’t be over-nice about this guy,” says Fahey. “The only difference is we can say we’ve got the champion jockey riding for us.”

Mention of the title race, and the 191 winners Hanagan rode to repel Richard Hughes on the final day of the season, is enough to prompt Fahey to reach for a cigarette.

“I didn’t think he would do it. We had run out of ammunition. We were relying on other trainers’ to help.”

Compared to that partisan, emotion-filled day at Doncaster when Hanagan was held aloft by his fellow jockeys, his demeanour has changed, too.

There is colour back in his face, for a start. And a waspish sense of humour as Hanagan, a diehard Liverpool fan, explains that he was beaten on Lost City – a horse owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson – in Ireland on Sunday.

Has Ferguson mellowed, or are Liverpool in chagrin after losing when the jockey paraded his trophy in front of the Kop? “I don’t think Sir Alex knows,” says Hanagan. “He has other things to worry about, doesn’t he?!”

Lost City’s disappointing run is slightly perplexing. “I expected to win – but nothing’s come back to say something is amiss,” says Fahey.

His worry, as he surveys ‘first lot’ pulling up the gallops from their starting point by the A64, is his two-year-old fillies – and how the harsh winter has held back their progress. He and Hanagan hope it is the same for everyone.

Yet, as 30 horses and riders return to the unsaddling area, Hanagan – just the third Northern rider to be crowned champion in 105 years – waits his turn before his filly is hosed down.

He gives the impression of being a ‘journeyman jockey’ when it is his poise in the saddle, timing and strength that stood him apart last year from his rivals.

“This is the most important part of my job, riding out,” he says.

“You have to do it. You have to know the horses – what they like, what they dislike.

“If you don’t, your chances of winning are much less.”

It is why Hanagan is a picture of concentration as he walks Corsicarun around the indoor school before heading to the gallops.

Even though the chestnut colt provided the jockey with just one winner last season, a late September race at Beverley, Hanagan only won the title by two.

This course could make all the difference again – but the jockey is unperturbed by the title talk. “To be honest, I don’t feel under any pressure. I’ve done it.

“Pressure was trying to hold on. That’s pressure.

“It doesn’t matter now – it can’t be taken away.

“What I do know is that it has made me a tougher jockey mentally. I know I can do it.”

As Fahey and his amiable assistant Robin O’Ryan compare notes, Hanagan instantly becomes more serious as he enters to the stables to saddle up his fourth lot of the morning – Wootton Bassett.

The horse is the personification of calmness as head lass Cheryl Mitchell pulls tight a set of leg bandages.

Wootton Bassett, named in honour of the town that is now synonymous with those servicemen sacrificed in Afghanistan, pokes his head out of his stall. He is coming to life, albeit slowly.

“He’s the best I’ve ridden,” says Hanagan as he studies the horse, near black in colour apart from a tiny white facial feature.

“Could he win a Classic? I hope so. That’s my next target, but it won’t be easy. Yet the one thing you can’t take away from Wootton Bassett is his fighting qualities, he’s as tough as anything.”

Fahey concurs. A minor leg injury saw this £46,000 purchase at Doncaster Sales miss three weeks cantering on the gallops. “We don’t need any more blips.”

Unbeaten in five races, the colt has won £546,000. Standing in his way, however, is Frankel – reputedly the best horse that the record-breaking Henry Cecil has trained.

“Did you see his photo in the paper crossing the road?” asks Fahey. “His head was one side and his tail the other. He looks a monster.”

Yet, as Hanagan and Wootton Bassett appropriately lead out a string of 25 horses, the worried frowns ease.

As Wootton Bassett pulls alongside Harrison George, a contender for next Saturday’s Lincoln Handicap, Fahey is relieved – even more so when Hanagan reports that Wootton Bassett, whose wet coat is now glimmering in the sun, has become even more physically imposing.

Hanagan’s day, however, is only just beginning. Three hours after first lot, he is driving to Southwell to sharpen his riding skills on the all-weather before the Flat season starts on Wednesday.

Slightly uncomfortable in the limelight, his outlook has changed markedly since he donated his riding fees and winnings from the final fortnight of last season to charity.

The £10,000 was split between The House That Jack Built, the planned Injured Jockeys’ Fund rehab centre in Malton, and the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital on Merseyside.

He visited the inspirational hospital with his wife Anna to make the presentation.

It made a life-changing impression.

Among those that the couple met was a little boy, Daniel – the same age as the Hanagan’s eldest son Josh. He was fighting for his life. A tummy pain turned out to be a seven-inch tumour.

“It was a big wake-up call,” added Hanagan. “That’s pressure. It’s also a reminder that there are more important things in my life.

“Riding out on a morning like this, and thinking of people like Daniel, will make me realise I’m the fortunate one.”

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