Johnson raring to go for Plumpton return

Richard Johnson swings back into action at Plumpton tomorrow after three months out of the saddle through injury.

It has been a long wait for the 24-year-old partner of Princess Anne's daughter, Zara Phillips, since a sickening fall at Exeter on 22 October from the ill-fated Philip Hobbs-trained Ilico II, who later died.

Johnson was left with a broken right leg that required surgery and since then he has had the galling experience of watching his archrival Tony McCoy scooping a hatful of big-race victories while he himself has had to languish on the sidelines.

He now has a metal rod running from knee to ankle, which is likely to stay in place for two years. But the bones have mended and Johnson said: "I had it x-rayed in Cheltenham which showed the leg is fine and I can't wait to be riding again.

"I may be a trifle ring-rusty for my first ride back on Balanak, but I have been schooling and riding out for Richard Phillips, Alan King and Henry Daly, and the leg feels good."

Trainer David Gandolfo, who has entered Balanak in the selling hurdle race, said: "The going at Plumpton is going to be testing but Balanak is suited by the muck and we hope for the best. In his last race Balanak made a very bad mistake at the first and things went wrong for him. He is a bit of an old soldier now and does not exert himself too much if things do not go his way. Fingers crossed he will give Richard a good ride back."

Johnson still has to pass a racecourse doctor, but thinks that will be no problem-and he has the prospect of partnering Looks Like Trouble - who showed that he is back to his best with a recent win - in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Recalling that horendous fall at Exeter, Johnson said: "The horse in front was swerving about as we approached the jump and I doubt if my fellow saw the fence. It wasn't his fault that we fell. I think he came down on my leg. When I moved slightly the leg did not come with me. It was pretty obvious that I was in some trouble.

"It wasn't particularly painful at that time, which I was surprised at, as I had expected much worse. The real hurt came when they plastered it up that night to prepare for the operation next day. That was really painful.

"In the end I lost about two winners a day (he had ridden 81 until then), and that hurt more than the leg. But I stopped counting because there was no point."

Johnson's comeback will mean less chances for Hobbs's two deputies, Robert Widger and Paul Flynn, who have been making hay while the stable jockey has been out of action.

But they deserve credit for keeping the Somerset yard ticking over nicely since Johnson's absence.