Odds-on shot gets away but Johnson still rides three winners

It was a fine day for Richard Johnson who had four rides on the card and won on three of them to make it 107 for the season, the one that got away being the 1-3 shot Woolstone One, who finished runner-up in the three-runner mares' novice hurdle.

The pick of his trio of winners came on Krackatoa King in what was a thriller of a race for the 3m2f handicap chase, the nine-year-old just getting the better of Bears Rails after the two had battled it out over the last three fences.

Even at the last there was little between them and neither deserved to lose, but in the last few strides Johnson forced his mount into a narrow lead and snatched it by a short head.