Johnson faces three months sidelined

Richard Johnson faces up to three months on the sidelines after breaking his right leg in a horror fall from Lincoln Place at Newton Abbot.

Johnson, who was ambulanced to nearby Torbay General Hospital for treatment, broke the same leg in similar circumstances at Exeter 10 months ago.

Lincoln Place appeared to have the Summer Jumping Novices Handicap Chase Championship final at his mercy but failed to come up at the final fence when asked by Johnson.

The horse flipped over in mid-air with the result that he catapulted the rider to the turf and landed on top of him for an ugly fall in front of the bumper bank holiday crowd.

Racecourse managing director, Pat Masterson, said: “It seems that Richard has broken the femur in his upper right leg and he will be taken to Torbay General Hospital.”

On hearing the news, Tony McCoy, Johnson’s arch rival and good friend, said: “All of my thoughts are with Richard, as it’s heart-breaking for him, especially as the same thing happened to him last year but he’ll be back.”

A spokeswoman for Torbay General Hospital described Johnson’s condition as “quite comfortable”.