'I was hurt - but I'm riding as well as ever' - Hanagan reflects on Fahey split

Paul Hanagan was not at a scorching Royal Ascot on Friday.

Like the Queen – whose absence from Ascot stretched into a fourth day – Hanagan was be missing from the main event.

He did not ride the Commonwealth Cup winner Perfect Power, the Richard Fahey-trained colt on whose back he landed the 2021 Norfolk Stakes. Instead, one day after completing back-to-back Norfolk victories, once again for Fahey, Hanagan was on duty at Redcar, facing up to a new future he had not predicted, but boosted by his latest major triumph.

Hanagan's record for the 2022 royal meeting will stand at one 50-1 winner from one ride. That single Ascot excursion did not come without controversy, for the dual champion jockey returned home with a ten-day careless riding suspension, having caused significant interference in the closing stages.

It was a significant blow to Hanagan – yet in winning the Group 2 prize, he also began the process of recovering from an earlier setback.

The Ridler and Paul Hanagan win the Norfolk Stakes but the pair drifted across the track hampering a couple of rivals en route to victoryCredit: Ryan Pierse (Getty Images)

On the final day of May, the Racing Post revealed Hanagan had lost his role as Fahey's principal jockey. The 41-year-old has been replaced by 24-year-old former Irish champion apprentice Oisin Orr, who had been due to partner the Fahey-trained Clearpoint in the Norfolk, only for his intended mount not to be declared. Hanagan kept his place on The Ridler and made the opportunity count.

That was Hanagan's only ride for Fahey – for whom he began riding as a 17-year-old – in the last fortnight. He also has no future bookings for a man with whom he continued to be associated even when retained by Sheikh Hamdan for a period of four and a half years.

Speaking after the Norfolk, Fahey sought to play down the significance of his decision to appoint Orr.

"It wasn't really a changeover, just bringing a young guy in," said Fahey.

If you happened to be the not-quite-so-young guy being taken out, it might have felt like a changeover. That said, the signs had not been good for Hanagan when he was jocked off Perfect Power following a frustrating run at Glorious Goodwood.

Prior to heading home on Thursday afternoon, Hanagan underlined the importance of his second consecutive Norfolk triumph.

"That was huge for me," he said. "It allows me to show everyone that I'm still so keen to go on. My confidence remains high and I feel like I'm riding as well as ever. That was a big statement."

Hanagan now faces a similarly large challenge.

"From the age of 18 I've had two jobs," he said. "One was with Richard Fahey, the other was with Sheikh Hamdan. To go freelance is something that's alien to me. It's a scary predicament to find myself in.

"I was hurt when it happened, but you have to understand Richard's point of view. I'm turning 42 this year. Richard wanted someone younger on his horses and you have to respect his decision. I think it could have been done better, but that's probably a bit down to both of us.

"I was in this position when I lost the Sheikh Hamdan job. When things aren't going well with the horses, I'm afraid it's the jockey who gets the rough end of it. That's how it works. I get it. I've been there before and I got through it. It's tough as a freelance to get on those better horses but I'm in a really good place and I feel like I'm riding as well as ever. That's mostly down to my experience. I think it's a huge asset."

Friday at Royal Ascot:

2.30 Ascot: 'She's working really well and she's probably overpriced' - key Albany quotes

3.05 Ascot: 'He's in the form of his life' - analysis and quotes for the Commonwealth Cup

3.40 Ascot: Why it could pay to look past two market leaders in the Duke of Edinburgh

4.20 Ascot: Thady Gosden: Inspiral is ready for a race but she will improve from it

5.00 Ascot: 'She's been laid out for this' - the Queen's runner primed for Sandringham

5.35 Ascot: Can punters trust the quick Derby turnaround time in the King Edward VII?

6.10 Ascot: Wesley Ward: We've just been messing but now we're planning to get serious

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