Richard Johnson

The UK’s champion jockey elect

Cheltenham Festival winners: 30

The UK’s champion jockey elect after AP McCoy’s retirement has ridden 20 Festival winners in total but drew a blank last season as he did in 2008, 2009 and 2013. Three quarters of his wins have come for trainer Philip Hobbs – including his last 11. Johnson is one of the very few jockeys to have won all four championship races: Rooster Booster in the Champion Hurdle, Flagship Uberalles in the Champion Chase, Anzum in the World Hurdle which was his first Festival winner and Looks Like Trouble in the Gold Cup.

Although none of these have come in the last 12 years. His big hopes this season include Balthazar King in the Cross Country Chase, Garde La Victoire in his chosen novice chase and Village Vic in the Byrne Plate.

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