Richard Johnson, the champion jockey over jumps, is expected to be back in the saddle on Tuesday despite being stood down after a fall in the paddock at Kempton Park on Monday afternoon. His search for a mount in the Grand National on Saturday, however, could yet end in disappointment, as the list of possible partners in a race Johnson has yet to win continues to dwindle. “I’m still looking, and he’s still available,” Dave Roberts, Johnson’s agent, said on Monday, having confirmed that the champion was “fine” after a nasty fall at Kempton. Johnson has had 20 rides in the Grand National over his long career and has twice ridden the runner-up. The first afternoon of the Grand National meeting has lost one of its major stars following news that Buveur D’Air, the dual Champion Hurdle winner, will miss the Grade One Aintree Hurdle.

Source: The Guardian April 09, 2018 17:49 UTC