Johnson handed two-day ban as placings reversed in handicap hurdle

Before racing it looked as if the Olly Murphy-Richard Johnson combination held all the aces with the pair responsible for four of the six favourites.

However, the anticipated domination never panned out as the duo went home with just the one winner – Todd relishing the extra distance in the 2m7½f handicap hurdle.

Todd was notching his second course victory, and Murphy said: "When he ran over two and a half miles on his last start he finished like a train, so I was confident the step up in trip would suit and it's definitely worked the oracle."