Johnson adapting to chasing winners as syndicate head

Richard Johnson rode 150 winners at Cheltenham – but admitted he found it tougher as an owner after enjoying success for the first time at the home of jump racing.

Johnson’s racing syndicate bought Kikijo from Gwent Holdings Limited in the spring and the five-year-old ran well at Aintree last month on his first outing in his new colours, finishing fourth.

But at Prestbury Park on Saturday, Kikijo delivered for Johnson and company in a valuable handicap hurdle, giving a hint that Festival glory could be in the future.

Kikijo is trained by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, for whom the former multiple champion jockey partnered many winners during his illustrious career in the saddle.

Kikijo has also won over fences and Johnson said: “It was great really. We thought he’d be a nice fun horse for our syndicate and to be honest I thought he was more of a staying chaser really, but it was just a race that suited him and the way he did it was very pleasing.

“I’m not a good spectator, watching it is actually much harder than doing it because you obviously can’t do anything about it, you’re just there watching, but he’s a great little horse. He’s pretty straightforward, so that definitely makes it easier to watch. You obviously haven’t got any control whatsoever.

“I bought the horse in the spring and you’ve convinced people to get involved and take a share in him, so obviously you feel a bit of pressure that they have some fun as well. That bit of pressure that hopefully you’ve bought a horse that will give them fun and watching the race.

“The horse was at home with us over the summer and we do all the pre-training before he goes to the trainer, so you’re very invested in the horse as well.

“We thought he’d be a fun horse to have because he is dual-purpose. He won in France then he came to Philip’s and he had been a little disappointing in his two hurdle runs previously and then they sent him chasing and he won at Newbury.

“I just thought he seemed a very straightforward horse, the previous owner probably thought he wasn’t good enough for what he wanted.

“I thought he’d suit us well. I thought he was a horse that is suited by a test of stamina and the softer ground and that’s all the reasons he ran a nice race at Aintree this year. The softer ground at Cheltenham definitely made a lot of difference to him.

“That’s (Festival) a thought. Perhaps get him qualified for the Pertemps race, but we haven’t really made any plans yet. We’ll have a look what’s available. He’s definitely a horse the owners are going to have a lot of fun with. He’s a pleasure to be involved with.”