Horse Racing: Richard Johnson issues Jumps title warning

Richard Johnson is chasing again. It was a forlorn habit when AP McCoy dominated the sport of Jump racing for 20 years. Johnson knew his place – dozens of winners adrift and in awe.

But the king stepped away from his throne three years ago. So, long live the king.

Johnson is 40, the age at which McCoy retired to a life of broadcasting and eating whole packets of biscuits in front of the TV. He has won the last three titles and potentially faces his greatest challenge to date.

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At this time last season, he had 34 winners on the board from 144 rides. This season he has 26 winners from 171 rides. With just two months of the season gone, that does not sound like a major fall-off.

Yet, for context, Harry Skelton was on the 28-winner mark last year and this year has 45 winners from 143 rides, an unusually high 31% strike-rate. And, importantly, he’s already 19 winners ahead of the champ.

The 28-year-old has benefited from the form of brother Dan, who provided all but two of his winners last season.

While it is early days – the title will not be decided until next April – Johnson says he has mixed emotions.

“It’s frustrating really,” he says. “Because I was always the one chasing, I’m not used to being chased, that’s the trouble. I was always chasing, chasing, chasing and now the shoe is on the other foot. I wonder how the hell AP ever put up with it, but actually I’m not sure he worried all that much – I didn’t give him much to worry about.”

Johnson, enjoying a couple or rare days off, is recharging and taking nothing for granted as he bids for a fourth consecutive title.

Relaxing in the garden of his Herefordshire home, he cuts a content figure and welcomes the challenge from Skelton and northern-based Brian Hughes, who now has the backing on Donald McCain.

“It’s good,” he insists. And there’s nothing to disbelieve, for what you see is what you get with Johnson, easily the most affable champion any sport could have.

“You want things to be competitive. I definitely want to be champion and ride more winners than everyone else. I’ve always thought the most important thing as a jockey is to be champion. It is the best thing I can achieve, because it is hard work – it’s 12 months of the year, you can’t pick and choose.

“I always knew what AP’s achievement meant. It was the thing I always dreamed of doing. The first year I was champion, it was all the things I ever wanted. I have been lucky enough to ride Gold Cup winners and Champion Hurdlers, but for me, you need the horse and everything has to go right on that one day. Whereas to be champion jockey, you have got to get stuck in and really want it.”

Johnson, who will head to Cartmel on Sunday for six booked rides, will have half an eye on the outcome of Skelton’s six rides at Uttoxeter.

He adds: “To be fair to Dan and Harry, they have set out their stall. They did it similarly last year but this year they have done it on a bigger scale, with a fairly good, strong team of summer horses. They didn’t run them until the start of the new season and they have hit the ground galloping rather than running.

“I haven’t quite got the summer people I used to have. Tim Vaughan would not be as busy now, Philip Hobbs hasn’t got as many summer horses. I think I’m on 26 winners and I haven’t had a bad start to the season, it’s just they have had a great start.

“Again, if the next two weeks goes really well, you could be back near 35 (winners) again. Dave Roberts, my agent, made the point the other day that consistency is the most important thing over the 12 months.

“Of course, you never know what is round the corner. Any of us can get injured or suspended.

“And Philip’s horses weren’t really firing last year, so I’m hoping that this year they will be in slightly better form. There were some slightly young ones that didn’t win last year because they weren’t quite right, so in a weird way they might be well handicapped or they may be second-season novices that didn’t win last year and are waiting to win. I’m hoping over the 12-month period we’ll have a chance.

“For me, the most important thing I can do is be champion jockey again. I’d love to win the Gold Cup again and the Grand National, and everything else.

“I’m not going to sit in the corner and sob myself to sleep if I don’t (win the title), just as long as I know I’ve given it 100 per cent. It would not sit well with me if, at the end of the year, I’d be saying, ‘if I’d have gone to Carlisle or Perth, I could have been champion’. I’d be more upset about that than I would not being champion jockey.

“This year, I have to make sure I pull out a few stops. At the same time, you need the horses. I’m very lucky to have a big group of trainers to ride for, so fingers crossed, over the 12 months, we can be up there.”

Gauntlet picked up, the Skelton team is on notice. Once more, the chase is on.

Saturday’s Selections:

NEWCASTLE (AW): 12.20 Staxton, 12.55 Yafta, 1.30 Dannyday, 2.05 Withold, 2.40 Good Time Ahead, 3.15 Stamp Hill, 3.50 Ventura Ocean, 4.25 Garrick

NEWMARKET (July): 1.10 Ellheidi, 1.45 Larchmont Lad, 2.20 Moyassar, 2.55 Second Step, 3.30 Morning Beauty (nb), 4.05 Zain City, 4.40 Considered Opinion

YORK: 1.35 Three Card Trick, 2.10 Lady In Question, 2.45 My Amigo, 3.20 Poet’s Prince, 3.55 Parting Clouds, 4.30 Our Lord, 5.00 Andok

WINDSOR: 1.50 Masaru, 2.25 Dutch Stranger, 3.00 COME ON LEICESTER (NAP), 3.35 Humble Hero, 4.10 Oh This Is Us, 4.45 War Glory, 5.20 Juneau

CHESTER: 1.55 Beauty Filly, 2.30 Bosham, 3.05 Crossing The Line, 3.40 Gabrial The Wire, 4.15 Benadalid, 4.50 Verne Castle, 5.25 Stormin Tom

LINGFIELD: 5.40 Life On Earth, 6.15 Cool Macavity, 6.45 The Night Porter, 7.15 Delegate The Lady, 7.45 Roundabout Magic, 8.15 The Lacemaker, 8.45 Gainsay

Sunday’s Selections:

UTTOXETER: 1.30 Celestial Path, 2.00 Fred’s Filly, 2.35 Fair Mountain, 3.10 Symphony Of Angels, 3.45 Champagne At Tara, 4.20 Winter Lion, 4.55 Royal Ruby, 5.30 Shillingsworth

WINDSOR: 1.50 Tivoli, 2.25 Sweet Dreams, 3.00 Puds, 3.35 Moving Forward, 4.10 Finale, 4.45 Hats Off To Larry, 5.20 Panko

CARTMEL: 2.10 Secret Escape, 2.45 Leapaway, 3.20 Running Wolf, 3.55 Code Of Law, 4.30 Wadswick Court, 5.05 Perseid, 5.40 Volcanic

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