Paul Hanagan was crowned champion Flat jockey for 2010 after an epic battle with Irish rider Richard Hughes concluded on the final day of the season at Doncaster yesterday. Having led from the very first day of the campaign at Doncaster in March when he rode a four-timer, the Malton-based pilot got to lift the trophy back on Town Moor. The 30-year-old was forced to travel the length and breadth of the country in recent weeks in search of valuable winners, as Hughes pushed him every step of the way.

Despite never taking the lead, Irishman Hughes had been in insatiable form of late and closed the gap on a seemingly daily basis. The momentum swung one way and then the other but after Hughes failed to land the feature race, the totesport.com November Handicap on Senate, Hanagan was confirmed champion. Speaking afterwards, the new champion declared himself "gobsmacked".