High road to former triumphs for jockey Paul Hanagan (From York Press)

High road to former triumphs for jockey Paul Hanagan

11:36am Wednesday 2nd May 2012 in Horse racing By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

Paul Hanagan may be preparing for Newmarket’s Classic weekend in his new role as number one jockey to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, but it’ll be like old times for the Malton champion tomorrow.

Hanagan journeys to Musselburgh, where he is far and away the leading rider in the past five seasons, and looks set to add to his prolific record at the Scottish course.

Richard Fahey has been quick to snap up the services of his former stable jockey and the Musley Bank trainer can provide Hanagan with a couple of winning chances aboard Jubilee Games and Hi There.

The Bryndley Davies Maiden Auction Stakes is the target for the juvenile Jubilee Games, who made his debut at Beverley last month and finished a creditable fourth on testing ground. That experience will not have been wasted on him and, although it is impossible to guage the strength of the newcomers in the field, Jubilee Games should be in the shake-up.

Hi There, a newcomer to the Fahey stable, made his debut for the Malton trainer at Beverley a couple of weeks ago and finished fourth in handicap company, which was an encouraging start to his second season.

The Dickson Minto W.S. Handicap over seven furlongs may not take a great deal of winning and nap selection Hi There has decent claims.

Hanagan also has good prospects on Silvanus for Paul Midgley in the TurfTV Handicap. Winner of the corresponding race 12 months ago with Hanagan in the saddle, Silvanus finished fourth at Kempton three weeks ago and should lack nothing in fitness for this switch back to turf after three all-weather outings.

Tapis Libre makes plenty of appeal for Mick Easterby in the Byford Dolphin Handicap.

The Sheriff Hutton gelding made all to win at Pontefract last week and, as that was in an apprentices’ race, he escapes a penalty here. David Simmonson, who rode him so well last week, and who has since booted home another winner at Catterick, again has the mount.

Katmai River promises to be a popular choice among punters at Brighton’s evening meeting.

The Mark Usher-trained gelding won on this course last week when getting the better of Huzzah by a length and a half.

A 6lb penalty may not anchor him in the Read Ryan Moore Exclusively On Betfair Handicap.

King’s Road should not be overlooked in the Betfair Handicap.

The seven-year-old finished third on his recent reappearance at Southwell and, although well beaten in the end, that was his first outing since last September. That outing should have benefited him greatly and the ultra-consistent George Baker rides him this time.

Richard Guest has several runners on the Brighton card and his best chance of a winner is arguably with Brown Pete in the Better Prices On Betfair Mobile Handicap. William Carson’s mount failed by only a nose at Southwell.

Racing selections

Musselburgh

2.00 Lil Ella, 2.30 Jubilee Games, 3.00 Save The Bees, 3.30 Tapis Libre, 4.00 Hi There (NAP), 4.30 Social Rhythm, 5.00 Silvanus, 5.35 Circuitous.

Brighton

5.05 Must Be Me, 5.40 Baby Driver, 6.10 Katmai River, 6.40 King’s Road, 7.10 Byrd In Hand, 7.40 Brown Pete, 8.10 Welsh Inlet.

Tomorrow’s other meetings

Hereford (Leicester was abandoned).

Today’s meetings

Cheltenham, Kelso, Pontefract and Southwell.