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Champion unseated at start of eventful Fontwell heat

Richard Johnson has his fingers crossed he will be fit enough to ride at Newcastle on Tuesday after missing his final two mounts at Fontwell.

The champion jockey was unseated at the start of the “Goodwin Racing Call 08000 421 321” Maiden Hurdle when his mount Umdeni, the odds-on favourite, was impeded by Bigdeal.

The stewards looked into the incident but found that it was accidental.

An eventful race was won by Brendan Powell’s 66-1 newcomer My Destiny in a photo finish from 40-1 chance Carrick Roads – with 100-1 shot Crossley Tender in third leading to a Tote Exacta of £2,533.

To rub salt into Johnson’s wounds, his intended ride in the next, Night Of Sin in the M C Property Cherry Picker Handicap Chase, went and won. He was replaced by Harry Cobden, who had been unseated after the line from Carrick Roads earlier.

“I’m not too bad, just sore really, got a bit of a kick when I was unseated at the start,” said Johnson.

“I’m hoping to ride tomorrow, but realistically I’ll just have to see how I am in the morning.

“I’ve got three nice rides at Newcastle, so fingers crossed I’ll be there. We’ll just have to see what the next 12 hours bring.”