Johnson strikes gold at Haydock

Richard Johnson made the dash to Haydock worthwhile when he rode Richard Lee’s Mister Potter to victory in the Red Square Vodka “Fixed Brush” Novices’ Hurdle.

Johnson, who rerouted to the Merseyside venue after Chepstow’s abandonment, took over from Tony Dobbin on the giant seven-year-old and sent him into the lead approaching the last, where he held a lead of two lengths over Aitch Doubleyou.

But the latter made a mistake which enabled Mister Potter to power away and win by 14 lengths.

Lee said: “He is going to be some horse, he is a chaser in the making and this win over hurdles is a bonus.

“I saw him as a yearling – he was a big, gangly sort but I thought he would grow into one nice horse and as he has got older, he has done nothing but improve.

“I will probably give him just one more run this season over the brush hurdles again and then put him away.

“His owners sent him to Adrian Maguire in Ireland and he finished third in a point over there and I think that has helped make a man of him.

“His dam, Potter’s Gale, is a half-sister to Denman and Silverburn (winner of the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown).”

Roman Ark relishes heavy ground and put up a pleasing performance to defy top weight under conditional Fergus King in the VC Casino.com Handicap Chase.

Winning trainer Malcolm Jefferson said: “He has won a long way (14 lengths) but when they go on this ground, they tend to do that. The horses are running well and you have to make the most of it when they are healthy.”

Huka Lodge, winner of the VC Casino.com Handicap Hurdle 12 months ago, repeated the feat when brought with a sustained run by Richard McGrath.

The 10-year-old collared Desert Tommy inside the last 50 yards and went onto score by four lengths.

Huka Lodge joined Kate Walton last season, having previously been with Len Lungo.

Walton said: “I think the change of scenery has done him good and he may go back over fences at Carlisle next month.”

Nick Williams, who partnered runner-up Desert Tommy, was suspended for four days (January 17-20) for using his whip with excessive frequency.

Kim Bailey praised conditional jockey Dougie Costello after watching him ride a perfectly-judged race to get Predestine home in the VC Casino.com Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Bailey said: “Dougie said the ground wasn’t soft enough for him there and he also said we should put a tongue strap on the horse and it worked.”

Costello, who declined an offer to join the Bailey stable three years ago, added: “It was very hard work out there on that ground but Predestine has handled it alright.”

There was a sting in the tail for Costello, however, after the rider was suspended for three days (January 17-19) for using his whip with excessive frequency.

Nicky Richards, who was at Sandown where he sent out Bohemian Spirit to win the ladbrokecasino.com Handicap Hurdle, was also successful at Haydock when Scarvagh Diamond opened her jumping account at the third attempt in the EBF Griff’s Last Mares’ Only “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.

Winning jockey Tony Dobbin said: “She is a very talented filly. She stays forever, but she wants soft ground.”

Richards and Dobbin were out of luck 35 minutes later when Harmony Brig was pulled up three out in the VC Casino.com Novices’ Chase, which went the way of the Susan Nock-trained Dictum.

Dictum, ridden by Graham Lee, went on at the sixth of the 14 fences in the two-and-a-half-mile test and steadily drew clear to beat Baron Monty by 19 lengths.

Nock said: “We were not sure if he would get the two and a half miles but Graham said it was no problem and we may try him over further at some stage.

“The softer the ground the better for him and Graham said he had not had a hard race – he surprises us every time he runs.”