Richard Johnson on the road to anywhere and everywhere in title defence

What have you done since Christmas Day? It probably does not come close to what champion jockey Richard Johnson has put into his unquenchable thirst for winners in defence of his title.

As some office workers return to the daily grind after the two-week Christmas and New Year holiday, the champion jockey will be on the road at 5am making his way back to Scotland for the second time in five days with trips to Sandown and Plumpton in between.

This is on a day when he could have taken the more leisurely route to Chepstow from his Pembridge home in Herefordshire.

That is neither the four-time champion's way nor that of kingmaker agent Dave Roberts, who books rides for Johnson and previously Sir Anthony McCoy among many others.

Instead it is back to Ayr for three rides for old ally Gordon Elliott, with whom he has a career 31 per cent strike-rate, two days after he made the same 650-mile round trip for a winner from four rides for Olly Murphy.

Dave Roberts: jockeys' agent to Richard JohnsonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Asked about the choice, Johnson, who starts the day tied with Hughes on 105 winners this season, said: "Yes, Chepstow would have been closer but I want to go where I can get the best rides.

"I could have gone to Kempton for two rides on Boxing Day but again I don't want to be just taking part, I want to compete.

"That is another reason Dave Roberts is great at his job. He is on the case for winners when the entries come out."

That teamwork and desire saw Johnson bypass the big meetings at Kempton on Boxing Day and Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

Johnson's journeys

Dec 26 Fontwell 350 miles
Dec 27 Chepstow 100 miles
Dec 28 Newbury 210 miles
Dec 29 Doncaster 320 miles
Dec 30 Taunton 230 miles
Dec 31 Uttoxter 160 miles
Jan 1 Exeter 300 miles
Jan 2 Ayr 650 miles
Jan 4 Sandown 350 miles
Jan 5 Plumpton 420 miles
Jan 6 Ayr 650 miles

Instead he was busier at Fontwell and Exeter keeping his total ticking over with a winner at each venue to reward the 300-mile round trips which have helped clock up more than 3,500 miles since Christmas.

"Since I was 16 I have never not been working on New Year's Day and I'm lucky that my wife Fiona is from a racing family so knows what it entails," said Johnson, who turns 43 this summer.

"Two thousand miles a week is normal," added Johnson. "I'd rather have a worn-out car than a new one sitting on the driveway."

There are also some benefits from the hours on the roads, as Johnson added: "My driver Roy will pick me up around 5am and I will get more sleep in the car than I normally do."

Bookmakers may regret promoting Hughes to odds-on favouritism, although Johnson is no bigger than 6-5 with Coral and bet365.

Olly Murphy: has forged a prolific partnership with Richard JohnsonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Two reasons for that is two of Johnson's supporters, Olly Murphy and Warren Greatrex, showing signs of emerging from uncharacteristic slumbers.

Johnson said: "I want to keep the winners coming and Philip's [Hobbs] horses have been running well all season.

"Now Olly's horses have picked up well in the new year and Warren is getting going after a slow time."

What is certain is there will be more twists and turns plus pit stops in the race to the finish line after 16 more weeks of the season.

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