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MARK JOHNSTON starts the day within three of the record for winners by a British trainer, held by the now-retired Richard Hannon (senior) with 4,193.

With eight runners today, including the nap the big race of the day, the master of Kingsley House in Middleham could achieve the feat before the end of play.

The power base in racing has increasingly moved to the South and yet Johnston has bucked that trend since starting up in 1987. From the moment he first broke through the seasonal 100-winner barrier in 1994, the Glasgow-born Johnston has never failed to top the ton. Indeed, the former vet’s meticulous stable husbandry and shrewd placing of his horses has seen him top the 200-mark in seven of the last nine seasons.

And with 172 domestic winners on board already in 2018, he looks set to make it eight.

Johnston is not simply the most prolific winner factory currently operating but has his fair share of Group One winners including the likes of dual Classic winner Attraction and his own particular favourite Shamardal.

Elarqam is one of the present stars of the Johnston yard with an official rating of 114, having finished fourth behind Saxon Warrior in the 2,000 Guineas.

Two further defeats have prompted a drop in class today but there is no reason for thinking he is on the wane and he can regain winning ways.

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