Paul Hanagan keeps rival Hughes at bay with Musselburgh double

Hanagan, who now leads Richard Hughes in the title race by eight, triumphed in the opener, the TurfTV Handicap, when he steered Tim Easterby's 13-8 favourite Grissom to victory.

Hanagan picked up a one-day ban for his use of the whip on Grissom, but that will not affect his chance of landing a first championship crown because it does not take effect until after the season has ended.

After a blank day at Catterick on Tuesday, Hanagan claimed his second winner on the East Lothian track when he won the 17,000 Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Willie Park Trophy Handicap on Palomar.

"Yesterday at Catterick was a bit frustrating," said Hanagan, who had been scheduled to have seven rides at Musselburgh. "I had two non-runners and they were probably my best chances of winners. Things have worked out a lot better today. Every winner counts and I'm chuffed to have got two.

"There's still a long way to go - a lot can happen yet. All I can do is give my all, do my best and keep going flat out to the last race on the last day."

Hughes was due to have a mammoth 14 rides yesterday as he visited Nottingham and Kempton. In the end, he only managed two winners - scoring on Charles Camoin at Nottingham, before heading to Kempton last night and making it an across-the-card double with victory on Twice Bitten.

Tony McCoy, meanwhile, has ridden many extraordinary winners in his career but few will have had quite as much drama as Drill Sergeant at Haydock yesterday. Comfortably in front in the Racing UK Home of Jump Racing Novices' Hurdle, the Donald McCain-trained five-year-old pulled himself up heading out on to the final circuit. McCoy was helpless as the 11-10 favourite downed tools and the 12 remaining runners shot past him.

But McCoy again showed he is the man for a lost cause as his mount decided to join in again, with the 15-times champion getting him back in front to repel all-comers up the straight for a length over Brother Bob success.

Remarkably, Drill Sergeant touched 120-1 in-running on Betfair at one stage.

The trainer saw the race unfold from the Tattersalls Sales at Newmarket.

"I was watching it, then I started to walk away. I genuinely wouldn't read too much into it. You do see a number of horses do it on that bend at Haydock, but it was exaggerated because of how clear he was," said McCain.

"There was an awful lot of laughing going off by everyone here except me, but it's grand, we got away with it.

"The horse has got a lot of ability and he's learning his job."