Hanagan bosses the Sprint

SANDS OF MALI ended a three-year spell in the desert for Paul Hanagan with a 28-1 victory in the Group 1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint.

It was in the same race on the Champions Day card of 2015 that Hanagan (right) had gained his last British top-level triumph aboard Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Muhaarar.

Hanagan split with Sheikh Hamdan weeks after, returning north to resume his partnership for former boss Richard Fahey. And, after booting home Fahey’s Sands Of Mali in the six-furlong test, Hanagan, 38, said: “Even when I took the Sheikh Hamdan job Richard was always there for me and it’s great to repay him with a big winner like this.”