Champion jockey eyes Mutafaakir and Mikdaar double (From York Press)

Champion jockey Paul Hanagan eyes Mutafaakir and Mikdaar double

9:43am Monday 30th April 2012 in Horse racing By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

Paul Hanagan, who rode two winners at Doncaster on Saturday night, can continue his success today and tomorrow.

Malton’s celebrated dual- champion, who now spends much of his time based in Newmarket fulfilling his new role as retained jockey to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, heads to Kempton this afternoon to team up with Mutafaakir, who is napped to make it third time lucky in the first division of the Betfair Supporting Grassroots Racing Maiden Stakes.

A promising third when looking green and in need of the outing on his debut at Doncaster’s opening meeting, Mutafaakir, trained by John Gosden, has since finished a good fourth in a hot-looking maiden at Newmarket’s Craven meeting.

There are a handful of newcomers in this race, who offer potential threats, but if none of them are of above average ability then Mutafaakir should take all the beating.

Hanagan rides Mikdaar in the second division and, while it is pure guesswork to know if his unraced mount has the ability to figure in the shake up, it would be no surprise if that proved the case. Trained by Ed Dunlop, he is a well-bred son of Elnadim. He could be interesting.

At Lingfield tomorrow, Hanagan rides Manaar for Gosden in the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing Maiden Stakes.

Although well beaten on her debut at Newbury just short of a couple of weeks ago, it says much for the promise Manaar must have been showing at home that she was sent off the 9-2 favourite.

Perhaps it was greenness, or the soft ground, or a combination of both, that caused her to run an ordinary race. In any case, she is surely worth another chance on this Polytrack surface.

Remaining at Lingfield, the nap vote is cast in favour of The Nile, another Gosden runner, in the Mirror Punters Club Maiden Stakes.

One run last August is the sum total of The Nile’s experience to date, but he shaped with distinct promise on that occasion at Newbury when finishing third to Tales Of Grimm.

Possibly (3.30), trained by Peter Chapple Hyam, starts her handicap life off a good mark of 60, following three promising juvenile efforts last season, while Chjimes (4.30) is a previous course and distance winner.

Back at Kempton today, Dubarshi (5.15) makes plenty of appeal.

Librettela (4.15) finished off last season with a floursh, courtesy of two wins.

Alan Jarvis’ charge may be able to continue that sequence under Kieren Fallon, while Mark Johnston’s Bounty Seeker (4.45) and the Elaine Burke-trained Dancheur (5.45), are two North Yorkshire runners worth watching at the latter end of the card.

Racing selections

Kempton (today)

2.15 Fitz, 2.45 Mutafaakir (NAP), 3.15 Mikdaar, 3.45 Litmus, 4.15 Librettela, 4.45 Bounty Seeker, 5.15 Dubarshi, 5.45 Dancheur.

Today’s other meetings

Towcester, Windsor and Wolverhampton.

Lingfield (tomorrow)

2.00 Trail Of Tears, 2.30 Chorister Sport, 3.00 Kiss A Prince, 3.30 Possibly, 4.00 Proper Charlie, 4.30 Chjimes, 5.00 Manaar, 5.30 The Nile (NAP).

Tomorrow’s other meetings

Exeter, Kempton, Segdefield and Yarmouth.