Johnson’s joy as relentless River flows to Gold Cup glory

Eighteen years. It’s how long Jack Kennedy, who announced himself to the wider world with four wins at this week’s Festival, has been on this planet. But it’s also how long British champion jockey Richard Johnson, a veteran of more than 3,000 victories, has had to wait for a second Timico Gold Cup victory.

Just 22 when he won the race aboard the Noel Chance-trained Looks Like Trouble, he has achieved a considerable amount in the intervening years, but the sheer joy, with a touch of relief and shock, was still quite evident on the 40-year-old’s face after he guided Colin Tizzard’s Native River to victory in yesterday’s renewal.

His mount is quite uncomplicated, and yet not one for an inexperienced jockey. He has stamina in abundance and likes to quite aggressively ridden, and Johnson’s class and experience shone through as he made all the running aboard the 5-1 chance.