Unlikely hero Hanagan keeps lid on expectations of championship glory

The pacesetter since the opening day of the season five long months ago at Doncaster, this unassuming Yorkshire rider enters the final straight with his lead intact.

Many did not expect his advantage to last a month, but Hanagan has still to be caught.

If it stays this way, he will be a deserved champion.

Yet the 29-year-old knows the current plaudits will count for nothing unless he can see off the sustained challenges of big-race specialist Richard Hughes, another seeking a first title, and reigning champion Ryan Moore, who has just returned from injury.

And while Hanagan has been proving the doubters – and himself – wrong all season, he believes the final two months will be the toughest yet.

Even with a career-best 140 winners to his name following a hat-trick yesterday at Musselburgh, 18 more than Hughes, his nearest pursuer, Hanagan is taking nothing for granted until the season ends, where it began, at Doncaster on November 6.

"I think it is going to be tough. It's been tough all year, but the evening turf meetings have stopped, the Yorkshire meetings are winding down so there's going to be a lot of travelling," he told the Yorkshire Post. "It will be a lot of time on the road, doing all the all-weather which is really competitive and the night meetings under lights at Kempton and Wolverhampton. Tiring; even more time away from my wife and young kids."

Hanagan's quiet voice, etched with tiredness, briefly falters. It has been a draining experience for him – no Northern rider has been champion since Kevin Darley a decade ago.

It has been equally exhausting for his ever-supportive wife Anna and two sons Josh, who is nearly four, and Sam, not yet one.

Take Wednesday. After riding out for Malton trainer Richard Fahey, the jockey drove to Lingfield (near Gatwick Airport) for two fruitless rides before dashing on to Kempton's night meeting for one ride.

Fortunately, Countryside Flame prevailed, justifying the 525-mile round-trip and preserving Hanagan's lead. The downside, he says, was having a snatched phone conversation with his eldest son before he went to bed. "He doesn't quite understand but hopefully he will, and I can make it up to him."

It is why Thursday – a rare day off because of suspension – was spent taking the children swimming and enjoying a bite to eat. He may not be seeing a lot of them in the weeks ahead.

His wife, a secretary at Fahey's yard, may also not get much use of the television when her husband is around. The first thing that Hanagan does when he returns home is watch a replay of the racing – even if that means interrupting EastEnders. "I've always told her to improve her viewing habits," he says. "Seriously, she deserves a medal for putting up with me."

Having never sat on a horse until he was 12, he knows how much the title will mean to his father in particular, who tried, unsuccessfully, to be a professional jockey.

He will employ a chauffeur to help with the driving in the weeks ahead. "It's almost unreal," says Hanagan, just 5ft 4ins and eight stone, and who has had an astonishing 746 rides this season.

"People keep telling me how many I'm clear or whatever. I try not to think about it, but you can't help it. There are expectations. Some horses are way too short in the betting, and that brings pressure when you're expected to win on a horse that would, otherwise, be an outsider."

If the championship was determined on prize money, as some suggest, Hanagan would be seventh. His most noteworthy wins – Marine Commando at Royal Ascot and Wootton Bassett at York's Ebor meeting – do not compare favourably with the riches won by Hughes or Moore.

Hanagan does not despair. The fact that the title is judged by the volume of winners suits his mentality. Every race counts. He also believes Wootton Bassett, named by his owners in honour of the town that has saluted the UK's fallen in Afghanistan so stoically, could provide him with an elusive Group One success. The two-year-old could reappear at Doncaster on Friday.

He also admits that he was, briefly, carried away when he won the DBS Premier Yearling Stakes at York. It was still the biggest pay day of his career and he let his emotions show.

"I'm not really one for waving my stick, but I lost the plot crossing the line," says Hanagan. "It really was a good day. For the yard, the trainer, the owners, my family, York, my local course. But then I realised I would probably fall off so I stopped."

A realist, Hanagan is forever conscious that his challenge could end in an instant. He should have been riding at Ayr recently, but was struck down with a 24-hour bug – that lasted three days.

The ride on the Fahey-trained Flying Statesman went to his close friend Tony Hamilton. However, the horse reared when entering the stalls and came down on the hapless rider. His pelvis was broken in four places.

"I should have been on that horse – and feel so sorry for Tony. I'm gutted for him, he's one of my best mates," adds the jockey who is in action at Thirsk today and York tomorrow.

"Perhaps my luck is in, I don't know, but it can all change in an instant. I'll just keep doing my job and see what happens. I didn't set out to win the championship. Equally, I'm determined not to let anyone down,"

Win or lose, he will not let anyone down. He will still be Paul Hanagan, the unassuming family man who has allowed his riding to do the talking – and given Yorkshire racing another hero to champion.