Paul Hanagan leads Richard Hughes by two with one day of the Flat jockeys' championship left.
All to play for on final day
After a hugely eventful day in the race to be crowned champion jockey it is as you were at the start of play on Friday.
Paul Hanagan and Richard Hughes are still separated by just two winners with only one meeting of the season remaining at Doncaster on Saturday afternoon.
Hughes may be seen as being fortunate in some quarters that he is still in touch, as Friday was supposed to be his blank day having reached his quota of nine meetings for the week.
However, after encountering travel difficulties in getting from Nottingham to Kempton on Wednesday, Hughes had a meeting spare and thanks to the efforts of his agent Tony Hind he eventually ended up with a full book of rides.
It was a good job too as Hanagan, who began with an advantage of 188-186 winners, was in double form at Southwell's afternoon fixture to stretch his lead to four.
In a nice touch both were provided by his boss, Richard Fahey, and that was not all he gave to his jockey as the Malton handler also sorted out the helicopter to take him from Southwell to Wolverhampton.
Sloop Johnb (6-1) was his first strike in the Bet Asian Handicaps - Betdaq Handicap.
It was a narrow victory, a head was the official verdict, but a valuable one.
Fahey's Diggeratt (3-1) followed up in Bet Multiples - Betdaq Claiming Stakes to put Hanagan right back in the driving seat.
Hughes was over the moon that Hanagan's afternoon haul ended at two winners, and said: "I'm still able to win it and I'm just glad that he didn't ride three winners - two I can deal with!"
Hanagan, on the other hand, was not surprisingly happy with how things went at Southwell.
"This afternoon went good and I've just got to try and keep going and keep my head down," he said.
The fun and games at Dunstall Park did not really kick off until the fourth race when Hughes partnered Towy Boy (7-2 favourite) to victory in the Breeders' Cup Live Only On ATR Handicap.
On returning to the winner's enclosure, Hughes said: "That was the start of it I hope!"
Winning trainer Ian Wood added: "He was on his head turning in but Richard got him back on the bridle and he won comfortably.
"He doesn't like the stick and Richard gave him a peach of a ride. That's what you get when you use a good horseman."
However, Hanagan struck back immediately when partnering Mark Johnston's Home Office (5-2) in the Hotel & Conferencing At Wolverhampton Maiden Stakes, who beat Motivado fairly comfortably.
Johnston's representative Neil Hodgson said: "That was straightforward for him and it's a nice one for Paul."
It is Hughes who heads into the final day with the momentum, however, as he struck back on Paul Howling's Pipers Piping (3-1) in the attheraces.com/breederscup Handicap.
Hughes said: "The horse loved that he did! He was going so well and I let him get behind them and then we just went for it."
Winning trainer Paul Howling added: "Richard gave him a fabulous ride. The last horse that he rode for me was 15 years ago.
"I told him to come into the paddock early today and he was one of the last in. I queried him about it and he said it was early for him!
"I love helping these jockeys and I love these titanic battles."
Hanagan was without a ride in the finale and added: "It's been a very long day and there's nothing more I can do now. The battle will go right down to the last race tomorrow."
For once the final race went according to plan as riding the 11-10 favourite, Hughes cruised home on Brian Meehan's Colour Scheme in the Breeders' Cup Live Only On ATR Maiden Stakes.
The Irishman concluded in true understated style: "It's all to play for and I'm not giving up."
At the close of play Hanagan's tally is 191 with Hughes just two behind on 189 and both jockeys have seven booked rides at Doncaster as the thrilling battle will come to its conclusion.
Paddy Power now make Hanagan a 1-6 chance to be crowned champion jockey on Town Moor, with Hughes 7-2.
