Our girl Lolly: mare in a million grows into a rare beauty over fences

Who do you want on your side when it comes down to one final jump at the end of a top-class staying chase?

Many in racing will instantly think of Britain's champion jockey Richard Johnson, and at Leopardstown a week ago he was indeed the man in the hot seat as the field approached the last in the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase.

But his will and determination was more than matched by that of his partner, La Bague Au Roi, who came up out of Johnson's hands in magnificent fashion to break the hearts of her pursuers.