Three Main Contenders vie for UK Champion Jockey Honours

Aug 26, 2011
Mike Godfrey

Paul Hanahan aboard Elmfield - biltho

Reigning champion Paul Hanagan makes plans for a final push to retain his title, whilst Silvestre de Souza and Kieren Fallon keep a watching brief.

The British flat jockeys’ title for 2011 is decided on ridden winners of turf and all-weather races starting from Wednesday 30th March, through to the end of the season at Doncaster on Saturday 5th November.

With 10 weeks remaining it is looking like a three-way fight between reigning champion Paul Hanagan, Sylvestre de Souza and Kieren Fallon for the ultimate annual riding honour.

Paul Hanagan

Northern circuit jockey Hanagan won last year’s crown, beating Richard Hughes by just 2 winners in a thrilling climax to the season, which was only finally settled on the season’s last day at Doncaster.

Having travelled the length and breadth of the country for rides, just to keep Hughes at bay, it would not be a surprise to see him continue with the same policy for the rest of this year. Being able to ride off a minimum weight of 8 stone is an added bonus in attracting extra rides and his association with trainer Richard Fahey’s stable generally brings in a constant supply of winners.

He has gone on record to say that he is going to try and concentrate this time on quality rather than quantity, but his commitment to retaining his champion status is as strong as ever.

Sylvestre De Souza

De Souza has been compared by trainer Mark Johnston to 5-time champion and BBC racing pundit Willie Carson. High praise indeed, but the diminutive Brazilian rider, who at one stage led the Champion jockey race, has surprised few with his meteoric rise up the leader board. Based in the north along with Hanagan, the 30 year old has suffered a quiet period recently, not helped it seems by a period of suspension for a variety of offences.

Approximately a third of his winners this season have been for Johnson’s stable, after regular jockeys Joe Fanning (broken heel) and Greg Fairley (dispute with trainer) have been absent. The Middleham trainer has no qualms about putting him up on any of his charges, remarking that nothing seems to faze the former Brazilian Champion Apprentice Jockey.

Johnson is convinced De Souza has what it takes to win the Championship, but with Fanning’s impending return to the saddle, his opportunities may be limited.

Kieren Fallon

Wily old fox Fallon notched up a century of winners for the season earlier this week, in his attempt to regain the title he last won in 2003. Admitting to being lazy so far this year and not taking as many rides as he has been offered, he says he now fully intends to throw everything at the title and see how things go.

The 46 year old Newmarket based pilot holds the belief that riding in the north is not as competitive as in the south and that trebles and four-timers are easier to come by. He is a realist however and freely admits that pulling back 13 winners against the strong team of Hanagan and Fahey would be some feat.

Should the standings be close towards the end of October, it will be interesting to see whether Fallon makes his intended trip Down Under for the Melbourne Cup. He currently plans to partner one of Luca Cumani’s Australian bound runners, but the lure of the title may just prove to be too much of a temptation.

Other Chances

Ryan Moore has dropped out of contention after breaking his shoulder and thumb in a horrific fall when riding the stricken Verdant at Goodwood. He will more than likely miss the remainder of the season.

Richard Hughes made a late challenge to Paul Hanagan last year, just failing by 2 winners. On the face of it, making up 34 winners just to draw level seems an impossible task, but he is backed by Richard Hannon’s in form stable and with a concerted effort, may be able to go close.