Ahead of a hectic summer of prestigious flat racing action, trainer Richard Fahey has revealed that he will no longer be working exclusively with jockey Paul Hanagan. The duo first combined when Hanagan was up-and-coming within the industry, but after more than two decades as partners, they have decided to go their separate ways.
Fahey’s Contributions
The former champion jockey has been aboard a number of Group One winners for Fahey, and they could have enjoyed more in the coming months with Perfect Power, on whom Hanagan won the Norfolk Stakes last year, representing an 8/1 chance for those betting on horse racing online at the July Cup in 2022.
The jockey has confirmed there has been no ‘fallout’ and that this is a mere parting of the ways. Just last year, he had already reflected upon their long-standing partnership. “I’ve had nearly 1,000 winners just for him, and I don’t think that is bad going,” Hanagan said with some understatement.
They both enjoyed their maiden Group One winner with Wootton Bassett, who prevailed in the lucrative Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère in 2010, while further glory came courtesy of Sands of Mali, he took down the British Champions Sprint in 2018, and Mayson, who won the July Cup in 2016.
While serving under Fahey, Hanagan won two champion jockey titles back-to-back, and he has since gone on to claim the 2,000th winner of his career – he has no plans for retirement, and will continue to ride during the 2022 campaign as a freelancer.
Meade Unseats Rider
The break-up of Fahey and Hanagan is not the only major trainer-jockey split to report. Noel Meade has also called time on his partnership with Sean Flanagan, instead opting to use the ‘best available’ jockeys when the National Hunt campaign returns later this year.
The pair had worked closely together for the past seven years, landing five Grade One winner as a team from Meade’s Tu Va yard in County Meath. Flanagan admitted the news came as something of a surprise, revealing ‘it was a bit of a shock, I won’t lie to you, but look that’s racing and you have to take these things on the chin.’
They first joined forces in 2015, when Paul Carberry – Meade’s previous favoured jockey suffered a broken leg in a fall that would ultimately force him to retire. Flanagan stepped into the breach and many glorious days followed, most notably aboard the excellent Road to Respect – he notched three of the duo’s Grade One successes, while Jeff Kidder was a popular champion at the Punchestown Festival in 2021.
They were back in the winner’s circle in December in the most incredible circumstances. Flanagan had broken vertebrae in his back just six weeks prior, but somehow recovered in time to guide School Boy Hours to glory in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown. Like his near-namesake Hanagan, Flanagan will ride on as a freelance jockey, and he will be hoping for more glory days to emulate those enjoyed alongside Meade.
