Hanagan gets Hamdan job Paul Hanagan has been named as Richard Hills' successor as retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. The two-times champion jockey is currently based with Richard Fahey in Malton, North Yorkshire, but will take up his new role when Hills retires on Dubai World Cup night on March 31. Angus Gold, racing manager to Sheikh Hamdan, said in a statement: "Following the recent announcement of Richard Hills' retirement after the Dubai World Cup, I am pleased to announce that Paul Hanagan has agreed to ride as first jockey to Sheikh Hamdan for the 2012 season. "Having been such an integral part of the very successful Richard Fahey team for so long I know that Paul will be a tremendous asset to our team." Hills, whose career spanned 33 years, rode five British Classic winners for Sheikh Hamdan, taking the 1000 Guineas on Harayir (1995), Lahan (2000) and Ghanaati (2009). He officially announced his forthcoming retirement on Sunday. Gold said that Hanagan will still be given the opportunity to ride Fahey's horses, when possible. He added: "I would like to express our thanks to Richard Fahey, and feel sure that both he and Paul will be keen to maintain their relationship when Paul's commitments to Sheikh Hamdan allow, and we very much look forward to working with Paul in the coming years. "At the same time I would like to pay tribute to Richard Hills and thank him for the enormous contribution he has made to the success of the Shadwell horses over the last 20 years or so, and hope we can continue to count on his experience in the future." Fahey saluted the achievements of Hanagan, 31, who linked up with the Musley Bank handler when he was 17. He said: "He's been with me so many years, but I'm obviously delighted for him. He is still going to be riding for us when he's available, so we'll still have a lot of contact. "He's had a lot of job offers in the past and has stuck with us, but this was a big one. His family are still living in the north but Paul is going to be renting a flat in Newmarket. "He's a great jockey and an ideal replacement for Richard (Hills)." Hanagan became just the third northern-based rider to claim the jockeys' championship in 2010, and repeated the feat last season with 165 winners. He edged out northern rival Silvestre de Sousa, who this week was appointed to the Godolphin operation.
