Sir Johnson waiting for the Champion Bumper
Sir Johnson may be saved now until the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham festival in March after continuing his unbeaten record at Aintree on Sunday.
It was a three length victory in Merseyside for Peter Bowen's runner, who now has to decide on the route he takes to the festival, if he does decide to run his once again before the showpiece on the National Hunt calendar.
The five-year old made his debut in May earlier this year when scoring at Ffos Las, he then following that success up at the same track a month later. His third run was a 10 length rout at Perth in September. People looking at the Cheltenham Festival betting should remember this.
The five-year old had to win carrying a weight on 12 stone on his back at the weekend, but it did little to stop him as he made a case to be made favourite ahead of the feature bumper race in March.
Bowen was full of praise for his runner following his latest victory at Aintree. Those after Cheltenham betting tips should bear this in mind.
"He was very good wasn't he?" he said. I can't think of another horse that has won four bumpers in a row, not many do it anyway. He's an exciting horse and we'll have to have a think what we do next."
Bowen hasn't ruled out the option of trying Sir Johnson over hurdle in the near future, but the decision has yet to be made by the owners Steve and Jackie Fleetham.
If Sir Johnson does run again before the festival, it is going be in 2012 as the horse is to be given a break until the New Year, at the very least.
