Hanagan proves a bank holiday banker with five wins at Warwick racecourse

Hanagan had to sit out the opener, confined to apprentice riders, in which Specialty, a daughter of 1,000 Guineas winner Speciosa, was sent off the 4-1 favourite to score her first win. She cut out a lot of the running under Tim Clark but could not find any more in the closing stages as Balmoral Castle came from off the pace to lead inside the final furlong and beat Living Leader and George Benjamin. There was spirited betting in the following British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes for juveniles, with Rise Up Lotus and War Paint going off the 2-1 joint favourites. War Paint led into the straight, hugging the inside rail but Hanagan had Rise Up Lotus poised on the outside to challenge and she ran on well to score by a length. Richard Hills, representing owner Hamdan al Maktoum, confirmed the winner will be upped in class next time out at York, when she will contest a Listed race. There was a delay to the start of the five-furlong Turf TV Handicap when Little Briar Rose knocked herself out in the starting stalls. When the runners finally got away, it was Astral Rose who took the field along, followed by Red Forever. However, they had no answer to the finishing kick of top-weight Where The Boys Are, who made it a quick double for Hanagan, although he incurred the wrath of the stewards in the process, being given a two-day suspension for careless riding. It was winner number three for Hanagan as he drove Ixelles Diamond up the stands rail to pip Serenity Spa in the Quantum Manufacturing Fillies’ Handicap. His next ride Saalib, a 150,000 gns purchase as a yearling, could not keep the winning run going when finishing only fourth to impressive scorer Sharp Volley in the first division of the maiden. Munaaser, the only runner at the meeting for trainer Sir Michael Stoute, was 11-8 favourite to take the second division and, after tracking leader Newton’s Law to the furlong marker, Hanagan drove this son of New Approach into the lead and he stretched clear to bring up the jockey’s fourth success. The betting suggested defeat was out of the question for Sahra Al Khadra in the racinguk.com Handicap but it was a mighty close thing as Hanagan’s mount just scraped home by a nose from early leader Space Walker, who fought back in the closing stages. Jazri and Mister Uno dominated the finale and there was just a short head between them at the line. There is more action at the course tomorrow evening with a 70s Party Night featuring a Queen tribute band after racing. The first of the six races is due off at 5.55pm and gates open two hours before.