MAJESTIC Dawn caused a 40/1 shock as he turned the Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket into a procession under Paul Hanagan.

Fifth in the race 12 months ago, he was back again off just a 3lb higher mark, but he had only had one run this season when last of 10 at Kempton.

Blinkers

Majestic Dawn was wearing first-time blinkers and Hanagan took the race by the scruff of the neck at the halfway point in the nine-furlong heat.

Hanagan kicked into what would prove to be an unassailable advantage and on entering the final furlong, it was clear the leader would not be caught, as Paul and Oliver Cole’s four-year-old maintained his gallop right through the line to win by four and three-quarter lengths.

There was a blanket finish for second, with Lucander just ahead of Bell Rock and 100/1 chance You’re Hired in fourth.

Back injury

Hanagan, champion in 2010 and 2011, was almost forced to quit following a back injury he suffered in February.

He said: “It was a long road back to fitness, so this is a special winner. I owe the comeback to so many people. I don’t think you’ll see many Cambridgeshires won like that.

“We got the rail, he was a little bit keen, so I took him away from the others then he relaxed.

“After that, I just pointed him.”