Johnson steps in for double
Richard Johnson came in for a double on Polar Scout and Versus at Folkestone today when fellow jockey Noel Fehily failed to pass the course doctor.
Fehily contracted an infection in an ankle at the weekend and he has been on antibiotics since, so he had to give up the rides on the winning duo for his boss Charlie Mann.
He cheered on from ground level and said: “I hope to be back at Bangor tomorrow, touch wood, as I feel fine and drove the governor down here.”
Polar Scout (2-1) won the David Edwards Memorial Handicap Chase by a length and a quarter from the veteran Sir Talbot and Mann said: “He was due a win after being unlucky twice.”
Versus (100-30) had five lengths to spare over Whist Drive in the long-distance Ruckinge Maiden Hurdle and was the 25th winner Mann has trained for owner John Davies.
Johnson said the entire needed to have his mind made up for him but did it well, and added: “He is still a baby really.”
Eric’s Charm (15-8), who had a horrendous fall at Lingfield last time out which trainer Oliver Sherwood thought could have cost him his life, showed no sign of it as he landed the Aintree Club Michael Gore Memorial Beginners’ Chase.
The talented six-year-old ran on resolutely under champion jockey Tony McCoy to win the three-mile-one-furlong contest by three lengths and a neck from Hirvine and Too Forward.
His handler said: “When he got up after the fall he had the wobbles and looked as if he was near to death. We had a bone scan on him, but he was fine next day.
“What worries me is that it looks as if I’ll have to run him on a Grade One track now and quite frankly, he’s not ready for it, although that was a first-class performance which has cheered me up no end.”
Lorient Express was sent off the 5-6 favourite for the two-mile Stelling Minnis Novices’ Handicap Chase but was well beaten by Nagano (11-2), who beat him 12 lengths under David Dennis.
John Tuck and rider Jodie Mogford had their second winner in two days when Sunnyarjun (15-2) took the Merry Christmas Selling Handicap Hurdle by a length and a half from Misbehaviour.
The Didmarton trainer had the virus in his yard last year but now his horses are perking up.
He said: “The winner might have looked good there, but I would look good running against my father! However, he did pick up and travel well.”
Nicky Henderson’s ex-French five-year-old Lustral Du Seuil galloped away with the C R Child & Partners Novices’ Hurdle (Div I), winning hard-held for Andrew Tinkler.
The 7-2 shot seemed to want to get on with it after a slowish pace in the early stages and surged to the front in the straight.
He beat the favourite Saltango and French raider Mistral Boy by eight lengths and the same.
Tinkler said: “I had to let him go because I didn’t want to disappoint him. He jumped well and I couldn’t fault him in anything.”
Mark Pitman landed the second division of the novices’ hurdle with Limited Edition, who had been off the course for 620 days.
The 4-1 shot won readily under Seamus Durack by a length and a half from Phar Out Phavorite, with French raider Fille D’Honfleur a further one and a quarter lengths away in third.
Pitman said: “I’m delighted. Last year he was placed in his bumper and then fell at the first on his next outing. He’s a half-brother to Genuine Article, who won seven for me. He was fit and fancied today.”
