Racing:Paul Hanagan extended his lead to three in his thrilling jockeys' title race with Richard Hughes as Ritual struck for favourite-backers in the second division of the six-furlong handicap at Lingfield today.
Sent off the 10-11 market leader, the Jeremy Noseda-trained runner did not look like scoring turning into the straight but Hanagan really started to get to work inside the final two furlongs.
Ritual responded gamely to his urgings and hit the front inside the distance to see off 25-1 shot Lujeanie by half a length. Hughes meanwhile sat in second aboard Yurituni for much of the race but he had nothing left to give in the finish.
Hanagan now leads by 187 to 184 with the season to finish at Doncaster on Saturday.
Hughes looked like pulling one back aboard King Supreme in the Breeders' Cup Live Only On ATR Handicap, but Blackmore and Cathy Gannon evidently had not read the script.
Hanagan tried to make all aboard Boucheron but that one folded on the turn for home, allowing Hughes to push his mount into the lead.
He looked to have stolen the verdict coming into the final furlong but Blackmore and Eagle Nebula emerged from behind and swallowed up King Supreme.
The former gained the day by a neck with Hughes having to settle for third.