PAUL Hanagan has capped off his most successful season with the ultimate prize.

The Warrington born rider was crowned Champion Jockey at Doncaster today after battling through a thrilling final week of racing against title-rival Richard Hughes.

Hanagan led the Champion Jockey standings by two wins at the start of the day after a blow-for-blow tussle with Hughes at Wolverhampton last night.

But Hanagan finished on top after neither could find a winner at Doncaster, making him only the second northern jockey to be crowned champion in the modern era.

The former Thomas Boteler High School pupil, who rides for Yorkshire-based trainer Richard Fahey, has deservedly walked away with the prize after an epic season that has seen him ride in more than 1,100 races over seven months.

Finishing the season with 191 winners to Hughes’ 189, Hanagan has exceeded his own expectations for the season, not only clinching the title but also claiming his first Group 1 win on Wootton Bassett in Longchamp’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

His win has also spared the blushes of bookmaker Ladbrokes after the firm paid out on bets for him to be crowned champion in October, almost five weeks before the season ended, because they thought he was too far ahead to lose.