OVER the Hill? No chance.
Richard Johnson has a festive spring in his step, and for good reason.
Thyme Hill has emerged as a potential star of the staying division for 43-year-old Johnson and trainer Philip Hobbs.
And the four-time Champion Jockey is just glad he has another special one to look forward to.
The six-year-old takes on rival Paisley Park in today’s Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in what has all the hallmarks of an early Christmas present.
Thanks to Thyme Hill and Paisley Park’s comeback from an irregular heartbeat, the staying division has gone from the gift no-one wanted to the star on the top of the tree.
And after a broken arm ended Johnson’s hopes of landing a fifth jockey’s title in a row, Johnson is just glad to be back in the big time.
He said: “Defi Du Seuil is on the comeback trail, and with him and Thyme Hill they are my Grade 1 performers.
“These horses are not easy to come across. When you have them you forget how hard they are to get hold of.
“We haven’t had one at Philip’s [Hobbs] for a couple of years. Then Defi was great and now Thyme Hill, they’re two lovely horses to have in the yard and help keep you going.
“I haven’t had that for a few years now and again you’re always hoping for those ones but you do need a lot of luck to find them.
“After horses like Menorah, Captain Chris and Wishfull Thinking and those types, it’s what it’s all about.”
The bookies are struggling to split Thyme Hill and Paisley Park at the top of the betting for the weekend showpiece.
The noise out of the Emma Lavelle camp sounds as if they expect to turn the tables on the Newbury form where Thyme Hill was a length-and-a-half in front in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle.
But Johnson reckons his horse will also be clicking up into another gear. He added: “The jump up from last season was what we were hoping for.
“When you step up into open company at that grade you never quite know where you stand.
“It wasn’t a surprise how well he went but we were really pleased with how he picked up from the second last and beat a very competitive field.
“And it was his first run of the season. I know the Paisley Park team are hopeful he’ll come on for his run, but I can’t see why Thyme Hill wouldn’t too.
“I schooled him on Wednesday morning and he was in great form, as good as I’ve seen him.
“He’s definitely grown up since last year. People forget he only ran four times over hurdles last season.
“He won two Grade 2s and a Grade 1 in that time. And then he didn’t have the best of luck in the Albert Bartlett where we got squeezed for room at the key moment and he was only beaten two lengths.
“It didn’t go our way that day but I think that was the first time he had a real tough race and I have no doubt that brought him forward and toughened him up.”
Staying really will be the name of the game this afternoon. The ground is set to be as testing as it gets and the Long Distance Hurdle turned into a sprint at Newbury.
But an end-to-end gallop and soft ground is exactly what Thyme Hill wants.
Johnson explained: “We’ve always thought he was a stayer. Even in the Champion Bumper when he was third to Envoi Allen that was the way it looked.
“Soft ground has always been what he needed. Paisley Park probably thinks a more testing gallop will suit them over us but I don’t feel that would be a negative for Thyme Hill.
“We could have gone chasing this season but we thought there was no harm in having another season over hurdles and we’re excited about what he can do in this division.”
After years of waiting in the wings behind AP McCoy, Johnson enjoyed four seasons as Champion Jockey once McCoy retired.
But that run came to an end last season.
Johnson suffered a broken arm after a fall in February and as the north got behind eventual winner Brian Hughes, it meant a fifth title was nigh on impossible.
And why many have already written off Johnson regaining his crown from Hughes, Johnson isn’t giving up hope just yet.
He sits 24 wins behind the current leader and defending champ, and 17 behind Harry Cobden – currently in second.
But there are plenty of hurdles to jump before the trophy is lifted.
Johnson said: “It’s been a slower start this year than usual because of the COVID situation.
“Gordon Elliott couldn’t bring horses over from Ireland who I have a good connection with and it’s been a strange first few months.
“But Phillip’s horses are in really good form again now and I have two Grade 1 horses to look forward to.
“Being Champion Jockey will always be the aim until the end of the season.
“Numerically it hasn’t gone as well as other seasons but there’s a long way to go.
“I have plenty of ground to make up but we’ll definitely give it a go. Whether it’s Perth, Catterick or Cheltenham we’ll be there and doing everything we can.”
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