JOHNSON WOE
CHAMPION jump jockey Richard Johnson expects to ride at the Cheltenham Festival in 48 days’ time despite breaking his arm at Exeter yesterday – but a fifth straight jockeys’ title is scuppered.
Philip Hobbs, trainer of Westend Story who unseated Johnson, 42, in the novice chase at Exeter, said: “He has broken his right arm in between the elbow and the hand.
“He is going to have an operation on it, to have it plated, either tomorrow or Thursday.
“He expects to be off for a month or so but he sounded very positive about Cheltenham.”
Johnson faces a race against time to make national hunt’s biggest week of the year where he has a host of fancied rides that include hot favourite Thyme Hill for Hobbs, along with his 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River.
Hobbs added: “Hopefully he’ll be riding before Cheltenham, but it’s obviously going to be more than a month before he is riding again.
“I suppose his championship aspirations are likely gone but at the same time it would be worse if it happened in six weeks’ time rather than now.”
But never underestimate the determination of a jump jockey despite the Professional Jockeys’ Association’s pointing out that the average length of time between riders suffering a fracture to their arm and returning to racing is 62 days.
Brian Hughes his nearest rival is three winners ahead following a treble at Newcastle on Monday.
Johnson and Hughes had been locked in a fascinating duel for championship honours in recent months.
Hughes posted his best tally of winners last season with 147 when finishing third in the title race behind Johnson, who had 198 successes.
Irishman Hughes, 34, is now on the brink of becoming only the third rider to be crowned champion since Tony McCoy began his 20-year reign in 1996.
Sam Twiston-Davies, on fire this season since turning freelance, is currently in third place for the title race with 86 winners to Hughes’ 114.