SOMETIMES, a fairytale farewell story can look too good to be true, and for Paul Hanagan on his final professional ride with Wootton’Sun (Richard Fahey) in the Sky Bet Handicap, that was the case on Friday.

The two-time champion flat jockey, who experienced Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere glory onboard Wootton Bassett – the sire of Wootton’Sun – in 2013, announced earlier in the week that he would retire from the saddle following the opening race on day three of the York Ebor meeting.

Despite finishing 12th of 14 in his last outing, ‘Hanagan the Managan’ was able to step away from the sport he loved on his own terms, riding for his boss Fahey, at a track that had seen him enter the winner’s enclosure on 95 separate occasions.

Emotions

Not many jockeys get to experience the process of retiring in such an elegant way, but with his weighing room colleagues forming a guard of honour as he strode out of the Knavesmire weighing room for the final time, it was hard for the 42-year-old classic winner to hold back the emotions in his pre-race interview with Matt Chapman.

From his three Group 1 victories in 2014 with Taghrooda (John Gosden), two Group 1 Darley July Cups with Mayson and Muhaarar (Charlie Hills), and one British Qipco British Champions’ Sprint with Sands Of Mali (Richard Fahey), Hanagan has been at the top of the sport since his champion apprentice title in 2002.

A new career beckons for the well-loved jockey and he will be sorely missed by the weighing room, stable staff, and racing public.