Johnson faces fight for crown as jump racing starts ten-day break

Champion jockey Richard Johnson is enjoying a well-earned rest as jump racing in Britain is put on hold for ten days, but he knows he is facing a battle to retain his title when the action resumes.

Johnson, who finished over 100 winners clear of his nearest pursuer in 2015-16, is a general 2-5 shot with bookmakers to win the title for the second time, but he is only four ahead of nearest challenger Sam Twiston-Davies – a 9-4 chance – who has made a flying start to the season.

Twiston-Davies has notched 41 winners so far this season, compared to the 25 he had at the corresponding stage last year. Johnson, by contrast, had 63 winners on the board at this point last year but has registered 18 fewer this time.