Peter Allison: Richard Hughes cuts Paul Hanagan's lead to three in race for jockeys' title

LINGFIELD's leafy all-weather circuit has rarely received so much attention on an end-of-season Sunday, but racing's eyes were on the Surrey track yesterday as Richard Hughes cut Paul Hanagan's lead to three as the jockeys' championship race entered its gripping final week.

Hughes had two winners to the title leader's one at Lingfield, with the score now 184-181 in Hanagan's favour to ensure the titanic battle goes all the way.

Reaction from Coral was to slice Hughes' odds to 9-4 from 7-2, with Hanagan easing to 1-3 from 1-6 for the crown that could well be decided on the final day of the season at Doncaster on Saturday.

"As we head into the final week, Richard Hughes is very much in contention for the championship," said Coral's David Stevens. "Paul Hanagan remains odds-on favourite to claim the title thanks to his slender lead and by virtue of the fact that Hughes will be in Kentucky next weekend to ride Paco Boy."

The pair's competitive rivalry was never better illustrated than in a head-bobbing finish which saw Hughes triumph by a short head Aurora Sky (15-2) at the expense of Hanagan on Bahamian Music in the fillies' handicap. The narrow success on Jon Akehurst's charge completed a near 46-1 double for Hughes following his win on Whiplash Willie (9-2) in the median auction maiden stakes.

Hughes brought the Andrew Balding-trained two-year-old to make his challenge in the centre of the course and collar 100-1 outsider O Ma Lad inside the final furlong.

The verdict was a cosy head victory with Destiny Of Dreams third and Hanagan unplaced on Chenonceau. "We are neighbours, in the same area as it were, so we like to help him (Hughes) as much as we can," said Kingsclere handler Balding.

Hanagan had briefly gone back to four in front on Mark Johnston's Herostatus in the Betdaq The Betting Exchange Handicap.