Whip row continues as de Sousa closes gap on Hanagan

Free from suspension for careless riding, Silvestre de Sousa’s Catterick double saw him reduce pace-setter and defending champion Paul Hanagan’s lead to just eight.

With Hanagan then responding with a winner of his own, and third-placed Kieren Fallon responding with a success at Yarmouth, Hanagan is now on the 157-winner mark with de Sousa on 148 and Fallon 13 adrift.

Momentum is on the side of de Sousa. The Brazilian, who lives with his young family in Thirsk, won on Idler and Illustration for Mark Johnston’s in-form Middleham stable.

Johnston’s support will be crucial in the season’s frantic finale. De Sousa is booked for 12 rides at Nottingham and Kempton today, while Malton-based Hanagan has six intended mounts at Musselburgh, a track where he has enjoyed prolific success.

Fallon is listed to ride four horses at Kempton and will make no decision until the weekend on whether to fly to Australia to ride in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.

As well as the title, either Hanagan – the defending champion – or de Sousa will win the Cock o’ the North cap, a prize that the Yorkshire Post and Racing For Change will present to the North’s most successful rider when the 2011 Flat campaign ends at Doncaster on Saturday, November 5.

Meanwhile Murtagh, who partnered Alanza to Group Three victory at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting, intends to dramatically reduce his riding appearances in Britain because of the controversial new whip rules.

His decision comes after top NH jockey Ruby Walsh received a five-day ban at Aintree on Saturday for striking his horse nine times – one more than the permitted limit of eight.

Though Walsh will appeal the suspension, Murtagh, a three-time Epsom Derby winner, does not want to miss out on rides for his boss John Oxx back in his native Ireland.

“These are bad rules introduced for the wrong reasons,” he said. “I cannot risk these lengths of bans when I come over to Britain. You won’t see me in the lead-up to major meetings like Royal Ascot and races like the Derby any more. I’ll probably draw the line at Group races only.

“I spoke to my boss John Oxx and he told me not to be going across to Britain for ordinary races. It’s just too risky.”