Time and maths against Richard Johnson in title race says former champ Scudamore

Eight-time champion jump jockey Peter Scudamore believes Richard Johnson faces an uphill battle to retain his title after suffering a broken arm in a fall this week.

Johnson, who has won the last four jockeys' championships, was three winners behind Brian Hughes before Tuesday's fall at Exeter and Scudamore believes the injury blow is likely to prove terminal to his cause.

Scudamore – who was making a guest appearance on the Racing Post's new preview show What A Shout – suffered broken bones in different seasons before going on to championship success, but he stressed the circumstances were different to those faced by Johnson.

"I broke my leg and came back to become champion jockey," he said. "I was out for ten weeks but that was earlier in the season and the season also went on longer, so I had more time to get back to win the championship. I also broke my arm, like Richard, and John Francome drew with me. I've broken bones twice and been champion jockey."

Scudamore also believes the Cheltenham Festival will prove another barrier to Johnson's title claims. He said: "I do think it's harder for Richard because Cheltenham is a week where he won't ride a huge amount of winners. It's a week where he could ride one or two winners but not three trebles, so that's another week taken out of his time."

Scudamore's final point was the sheer maths of the situation against the defending champion. "Whatever happens he's going to have to double the amount of winners that Brian rides to get back," he said.

On the injury, he added: "What's interesting is I don't think the healing time has moved forwards since the days I was riding. It'll be six weeks with a plate in, I suspect, before he's able to ride. As far as I understand, once the plate's in he'll be able to move his arms. It's not like having it in plaster, he'll probably be swimming and keeping himself fit."

2019-20 jump jockeys' title standings

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