Paul Hanagan off to good start at York Racecourse (From York Press)

Paul Hanagan off to good start at York Racecourse

11:53am Saturday 13th October 2012 in Sport

PAUL Hanagan’s fight to defend his top jockey title at York Racecourse got off to the best possible start when Polski Max (11-2) held on to win the TSG Stakes on Knavesmire.

Hanagan teamed up with former boss, Malton trainer Richard Fahey, to steer the two-year-old home in the six-furlong race, the opening contest of yesterday’s card, after beating off the late all-out challenge of Shahdaroba by a neck.

It took the dual-winning champion jockey to seven York victories for the season at that point, just one adrift of leaders Kieren Fallon and William Buick.

Robin O’Ryan, Fahey’s assistant trainer, said of Polski Max, who hadn’t won in his previous five outings since getting off the mark on his racecourse debut: “He hasn’t had much luck. We ran him in two big races and he coped well with the ground. He’s a great trier.”