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."