Johnson to go Right
HARRIET GRAHAM is likely to book Richard Johnson for Aye Right in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
The ride on Tuesday week is available as Aye Right’s regular partner Callum Bewley will be serving a suspension.
Bewley has ridden Aye Right in all but one of his 22 races, with Johnson on board when the horse won a handicap hurdle at Kelso in September 2019.
Trainer Graham said: “He’s on track to go to the Ultima at Cheltenham – and Richard will probably be on him.”
Sam Bennett sprints to the yellow jersey in the opening stage of the Paris-nice
MUNSTER coach Johann van Graan has refused to confirm if they offered promising out-half Ben Healy a longer contract than the one-year deal he signed last week.
Healy (above), who is Scottish qualified through his mother, had attracted interest from Glasgow Warriors but has pledged his short-term future to his native province.
The 21-year-old from Tipperary made his debut last season and has featured in all but three of Munster’s games this term.
The return of Joey Carbery has increased competition and while his new contract has gone down well with Munster fans, there was surprise it was only for a year.
Van Graan was coy on the matter when quizzed after Friday night’s 20-17 win over Connacht sealed a place in the PRO14 final and declined to confirm whether it was the province or the player who insisted on the length of the deal.
He said: “I am very happy that Ben is staying at Munster. I am very happy that he has signed a contract. I wouldn’t go into any contract detail.
“It is brilliant that Ben Healy is staying at Munster and he has a big future ahead of him.
“This was his first ‘semi-final’ that he started for Munster, if I can use that term, so I am very happy for him. The fight for the No.10 jersey is going to be very good over the next few weeks.
“You have JJ
Hanrahan who will get some gametime again and then you’ve got the young guns in Jack Crowley and Jake Flannery so we’re really, really happy with the 10 stocks that we currently have.”