Hanagan Now a Serious Title Contender

Jockey Paul Hanagan has always been a very capable pilot and has long been considered one of the best riders in the north of England, but his recent dramatic run of success now has people wondering if he could go all the way and win the British jockeys championship this season, writes Elliot Slater.

The last northern based rider to lift the title was Kevin Darley back in 2000 and the similarities between the two riders are striking, with their respective rise to prominence coinciding with a tremendous run of form for their retained yards; Darley with Tim Easterby and Hanagan with Richard Fahey.

It could well transpire that northern trainers will rally around Hanagan much as they did Darley ten years ago, in backing him en masse to give him every chance of matching the Newmarket firepower of reigning champ Ryan Moore, and the other significant title contender Richard Hughes, stable jockey to the remarkable Marlborough-based Richard Hannon who is having an astounding season.

A 33/1 shot with racing tips for today to lift the championship at the start of the season, Hanagan moved 12 winners clear of Hughes and 13 ahead of Moore with a hat-trick of wins in the first three races at Pontefract on Tuesday, resulting in his current odds falling to as short as Evens with Ladrbrokes, although 6/4 is still available with Victor Chandler and Paddy Power. Moore remains favourite with some racing tips but is now only marginally preferred by Ladbrokes who go 10/11. Hughes is generally on offer at 12/1, whilst Frankie Dettori and Keiren Fallon can be backed at 40's.

With the likelihood of Fahey cracking season continuing unabated and good support from other leading yards around the country, Hanagan's unexpected title challenge looks set to make this one of the tightest races for some years. Those that were shrewd enough to step in early and take 33's will be on very good terms with themselves at present and will naturally be hoping that the popular lightweight stays clear of suspension and injuries for the rest of the term.