A dramatic day in the jockeys' title race saw Paul Hanagan head into the penultimate weekend of the Flat season with a lead of five over Richard Hughes.
Leading by six at the start of play, Hanagan watched as the gallant Hughes reduced the arrears to four with a double at Newmarket, which included Listed-race success on Sweet Cecily for the Richard Hannon team.
Hanagan was not in action at Newmarket, but hit back at the Wolverhampton evening meeting with a double to Hughes's solitary winner.
The northern-based rider struck when taking the first at the all-weather track on 7-2 favourite Whispering Gallery for Ann Duffield.
And it did not take Hanagan long to notch his brace and take the gap back to six with a superb ride on One Cool Bex (11-4 joint-favourite) for Newmarket handler Charlie McBride.
Hanagan was then agonisingly denied in the extended two-mile handicap, in which Hughes had a very lucky escape as he was unshipped from Pearl, crashing to the floor but thankfully walking away unharmed from what was a spare ride.
An enthralling few hours ended with Hughes landing an across-the-card treble as he drove Star Links (11-2) home in the final race of the night to deny the Hanagan-ridden Nicholas Pocock. Hanagan sits on 183 winners to Hughes on 178.
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