Horse racing: Hanagan succeeds Hills as Sheikh's No 1 Published on Friday 24 February 2012 02:30 CHAMPION jockey Paul Hanagan has landed one of the biggest jobs in Flat racing after being named as Richard Hills" successor as retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. The two-times champion 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 31 March. 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. 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. 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. Hanagan's agent, Richard Hale, believes his transfer to Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell operation will provide the jockey with more big-race opportunities. Hanagan has only ridden one Group 1 winner, when Wootton Bassett claimed the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp in October 2010. Hale said: "It's a big decision for him and I'm sure it's not one he's taken lightly. He's a great rider and hopefully he'll get the opportunity to ride more winners in Group and Listed races. Bookmakers are now anticipating one of the most open championship battles among Flat jockeys when the new season gets under way, with Hanagan not going to be available for as many rides for "outside" stables. Hanagan has been eased in the betting to 6-1 from 7-2 with Richard Hughes, Kieren Fallon and Ryan Moore now the 4-1 joint favourites. Hayley O'Connor of Ladbrokes said: "Hanagan will have a new set of priorities centred around the success of Sheikh Hamdan's string, and while we've eased his odds of maintaining his champion jockey title this season, we're giving 6-4 that he'll ride a Group One winner for his new boss this year. With Hanagan no longer favourite for the title, the championship has become wide open and we've made Fallon, Hughes and Moore level in the betting for this season's contest. Meanwhile, Carlito Brigante will tee up a crack at Big Buck's at Cheltenham when he runs on the Flat over a mile-and-a-half in the Ladbrokes Live Mobile Race Streaming Handicap on the all-wearther at Dundalk this evening. The Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old won the Coral Cup at last year's Festival and has recently undergone a breathing operation. One horse that will not be heading to Cheltenham is Grandouet, who has been pulled out of the Stan James Champion Hurdle by Nicky Henderson after undergoing surgery on an infected hind fetlock joint.