Johnson bullish about festival chances
Richard Johnson has high hopes for ante-post favourites Monkerhostin and Mighty Man at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.
Monkerhostin and Beef Or Salmon are the 5-1 joint market leaders with Coral for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, while Mighty Man heads the Ladbrokes World Hurdle list at 3-1 with the same firm.
The Henry Daly-trained Mighty Man underlined his Festival credentials with an unlucky second in the Cleeve Hurdle last time.
Johnson said: “I rode Mighty Man this morning and he felt very, very well and he’s probably still an improving horse.”
Monkerhostin has not been seen since running Kicking King to a neck in the King George VI Chase last Boxing Day but Johnson is also sweet on the Philip Hobbs-trained runner’s chances.
He added: “Monkerhostin has been in such great form all season and Philip said he seems as well now as ever.
“He always runs well fresh and that’s why they’ve left him since the King George until next week.”
Rain is forecast at Cheltenham this week but Johnson would not be too concerned at present.
“They would both like good ground. I came from Cheltenham this morning and it has rained a lot but saying that, I think natural rain is better than watering it for me,” Johnson told At The Races.
“A couple of dry days on Sunday and Monday before racing on Tuesday and it will soon be lovely good ground – that’s what I would prefer.”
Johnson is also due to partner Detroit City for Hobbs in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, for which he is a best-priced 6-1 with William Hill.
The rider added: “On his first run of the season he was bitterly disappointing and there was no real reason why but he seemed to really come to himself after that.
“He won well at Newbury and Sandown and he looks to have the ideal credentials for a Triumph horse.
“I think he will get a bit further which you need to do in the Triumph and he’s a very big, strong, tough horse who won’t mind the hurly-burly of the race.”
