Paul Hanagan wins jockeys’ championships
Paul Hanagan managed to hold off a strong-fighting Richard Hughes and win his first ever British Flat jockeys’ championships. Hanagan started Saturday, the final day of the contest, with 191 wins, two
ahead of his rival Hughes. Both jockeys raced strong at Doncaster but neither managed to secure a victory and Hanagan was handed the trophy.
"I have so many people to thank, but I'd also like to say what an absolute gentleman Richard Hughes has been,” said Hanagan. “I know how hard he has worked. I had a lot of respect for him before but I
have even more now."
Hanagan and Hughes faced off on Thursday where they rode 10 and 12 rides each. Hanagan was the first winner of the day with Jeremy Noseda-trained Ritual, but Hughes responded with a double at Kempton.
The jockeys face off in the final race of the day, the High On The Hill, which would have brought them to a tie of Hughes had won, but Hanagan took the race aboard Iron Condor to end the day with the same lead with which he began it.
“I’ve just been down here all week living out of a suitcase. It’s been tough. I’ve just been hitting the crossbar but it’s great to get a winner on the board. It’s great for racing – it’s just what it
needs,” Hanagan said of the jockeys’ championships. “I’ve been trying to keep focussed and trying not to worry.”
Hanagan went almost uncontested at Southwell on Friday, where he picked up two more wins in six races and extended his lead over Hughes in the jockeys’ championships to four. Hughes was only allowed to
race once due to the maximum nine-meetings-a-week rule, but managed to win his race and shrink the gap to three. Hughes was the leader at Wolverhampton with two wins to Hanagan’s one, bringing the score to 191 to 189 by the end of Friday.
"I am proud of what I have done but it wasn't to be,” said Hughes. "It was a great year, I gave it a go but it wasn't for me."
Paddy Power has released their betting odds for the jockeys’ champion title next year and neither of the two 2010 front-runners are the favourites. Ryan Moore is the even odds favourite for 2011, followed
by Kieren Fallon at 3-1. Hanagan, this year’s winner, stands at 4-1 odds and Hughes at 7-1.
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