Century up for Johnson as title focus kicks into full stride

Fair Kate landed the mares’ handicap hurdle for the pair before Dorking Boy defied an 8lb rise to take the 2m4½f handicap hurdle at Newbury.

Lacey led the tributes for Johnson, who was riding his 100th and 101st winners of the campaign, and for good measure captured the feature Challow Hurdle on Thyme Hill.

He said: "Richard’s different class and so strong. He’s the man you want on your side. You’d rather have him with you than against you. We’ll be supporting Dickie all we can and I think he’ll win it."

Lacey gave his season seven out of ten, adding: "Things are getting better by the race at the moment, it’s been a good year. We’ve got an awful lot of young horses who have hit a rich vein of form and we’ll enjoy it while we can."

Defi made to wait by stewards

Defi Sacre survived a couple of scares in the Hallowe’en Trophy to secure a hat-trick and follow up his course-and-distance victory just ten days previously.

The Richard Hobson-trained six-year-old squeezed home from rivals Amoola Gold and Vado Forte but connections had to wait 26 minutes after the race had finished for the result to be confirmed following a stewards' inquiry.

Defi Sacre (red, nearest) in a three-way tussle with Amoola Gold (farside, yellow) and Vado Forte (middle)Credit: Getty Images

After a slow start to the season Hobson has now had four of his six December runners finish first past the post.

He said: "Defi Sacre travelled with such ease and luckily his head was in the right place at the finish. I’m not normally into running them back so quickly but he’s been in such good order – all of ours have – and I felt while they’re looking so well I’ll run them now and think about giving them a break after.

"We might take him up to Musselburgh for their trials day next as there’s a nice £30,000 2m4f handicap chase. He stayed that distance over hurdles last season so that wouldn’t be a concern."

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