Gallagher sacked by Johnson

HOWARD JOHNSON has questioned the professionalism of Paul Gallagher after dispensing with the services of the 24-year-old conditional jockey who joined him from Ferdy Murphy in February.

The turnover of stable jockeys at Johnson’s County Durham base has raised eyebrows in the past, with Graham Lee, Paddy Brennan and Denis O’Regan all losing the position since 2006, but in this instance agent Richard Hale has also dropped Co Kildare-born Gallagher from his books.

Gallagher, whose claim dropped to 3lb following 26 winners last season, and who has eight already on the board this term, enjoyed a purple patch that attracted plenty of plaudits in the spring when landing the Red Rum Handicap Chase with Silk Drum on his first ride at Aintree, where he completed a double for Johnson on Prince De Beauchene.