48 and counting: Mark Johnston breaks his record for most winners in a month

Mark Johnston has surpassed his own record for most winners in a month in Britain following the victory of Makyon at Ayr.

Johnston equalled the record of 47 winners in a month he initially set in July 2015 at Pontefract on Sunday, a record he has now broken less than 24 hours later at Ayr.

Makyon had been well-beaten on his previous two starts but ridden with more restraint by Joe Fanning, the 11-8 favourite bounced back to form, winning the novice contest by three and three-quarter lengths.

The prolific Middleham trainer is responsible for eight of the 11 most productive months of all time, with Richard Hannon snr, Richard Fahey and Saeed bin Suroor the other trainers to feature on the table.

Johnston was caught unaware of the achievement but said: "To be honest, I didn’t know. I can’t say I usually look at records and figures and things like that, it’s such a hectic time. It’s not that important but it’s good to do it and it’ll be nice to get another two and make it a nice round 50.

“As I said last year when we did the record for the most British winners, it’s very easy to say it’s quality and not quantity that matters. I’ve always been quite happy with the trainers’ championship being based on prize-money because it’s important that it’s our job is to win as much prize-money with them as possible.

"At the same time, there’s no getting away from the fact that this game is about winning and not about coming second. If you ask owners would they rather win and get £5,000 or come second and get £10,000, they all say come second and get ten, but the reality is they care more about winning than about anything else or they wouldn’t be in British racing.

"Our job, first and foremost, is to win races for people so if we break records by winning more races than anyone else, we’re doing something right."

With stable stalwarts Joe Fanning and Franny Norton both unavailable for periods of July, Johnston has had to use a big team of jockeys, with 11 riders adding to the trainer's monthly total of winners.

“It’s been a difficult month with jockeys, with Joe Fanning out injured for much of it and Franny out injured just a little bit in the last few days," Johnston said. "When something like that happens at a time of the year like this, then we see how big a part they play.

"We missed Joe badly when he was off with his injury and certainly in the run-up to Goodwood we’ve been very concerned about Franny being off. Joe has a ban during Goodwood as well which is not great. We’ve spread the rides out a bit and the other jockeys have done us proud."

The uncharted territory of 50 winners looks a distinct possibility for Johnston, who is set for another busy Glorious Goodwood. Dee Ex Bee and Visinari head his squad of six at the meeting on Tuesday, with a further five runners declared at the Sussex course on Wednesday.

On his Goodwood squad, he added: "I’ve been slightly worried we’ve had such a busy July and it does mean an awful lot of the horses have been running frequently and might not be available for Goodwood, so I was a bit worried about trying to get together the same strength of team as usual. We’ve got six on the first day and five on the Wednesday – it’s looking alright."

Johnston has nine runners away from Goodwood in Britain on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Johnston's high-profile July victories

Communique
Princess Of Wales's Tattersalls Stakes, July 11
Communique has developed into something of a Newmarket specialist and took his record to four out of four at the town’s two tracks with a commanding win in the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Tattersalls Stakes under Silvestre de Sousa at the July festival.

Queen Mary winner Raffle Prize landed a bit pot at Newmarket's July festivalCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Raffle Prize
Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes, July 12
The Queen Mary winner exacted revenge on the only horse to beat her, reversing the form with Albany Stakes winner Daahyeh. Raffle Prize proved the decision to return to six furlongs a smart one with her front-running victory in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes.

King’s Advice
bet365 Trophy, July 12
King’s Advice put together a magnificent run of six wins between March and May, soaring 30lb in the handicap as he progressed through the ranks. A respectable sixth in the Northumberland Plate ended the sequence but a return to winning ways was not far away, as the five-year-old took apart a smart field in the valuable bet365 Trophy at Newmarket.

Vale Of Kent
bet365 Bunbury Cup, July 13
Vale Of Kent was the fourth and final winner at a fine July festival for Johnston, taking home £74,700 in winning prize-money for his Bunbury Cup success. Partnered by jockey of the summer Frankie Dettori, the four-year-old battled back gamely to land the competitive 7f handicap.

Elarqam
Sky Bet York Stakes, July 27
The regally-bred Elarqam disappointed in his Classic campaign but has started delivering on his potential this month, adding to a Listed success at Sandown with a first Group 2 win in the York Stakes on Saturday. The four-year-old beat Addeybb by three and a quarter lengths.

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