Johnson takes honours with dream treble
Schooling horses on the morning they run is a ploy trainer Richard Lee has used successfully, and his decision to put Woodenbridge Dream over a few practice fences before taking him to the racecourse paid off.
The 6-4 favourite had only Nazimabad to worry about over the last three fences but he was already in control when his rival ploughed through the last, leaving Johnson’s mount to score by seven lengths.
Lee has had far from an easy time getting Woodenbridge Dream to where he is now.
He explained: “He had been bursting (blood vessels) in Ireland and was a handful when he joined me, but he’s gone from being a hyperactive warrior to a tough old hack and in all honesty he’d do more work at home some days than he’s done here today.
“This trip was on the short side but it was a nice little prize and I made sure he was sharp for it by getting my head girl to school him this morning.”
Johnson sparked his treble when partnering 7-4 favourite Reservoir to an eight-length triumph over Cunning Pursuit in the K W Bell Construction Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.
Johnson, whose birthplace is not far from Hereford, rounded off a memorable afternoon when guiding Post It (20-1) to a length success over Zanzibar Boy in the Weatherbys Bank Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race.
Ferdy Murphy took his seasonal tally to 50 when Dolmur and Keith Mercer scored by three lengths from Witness Time in the Weatherbys Messaging Service Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
Murphy said: “He was quite highly rated when he was trained in Ireland and ran in the Irish 2000 Guineas, but his owner sent him to me looking for firmer ground in Britain.”
