Victory under doctor's orders

The fact that Cheltenham had dispensed with his medical services a year earlier added to the emotion.

"I came close to giving some people a Harvey Smith salute as I came down the walkway," he said. "I was incredibly bitter about that episode and never really got an official reason, but fortunately I have enough to keep me busy."

Soon after 6am each day, Pritchard is off to the gallops. By nine, the doctor is in the house for morning surgery, while at noon he dons his trainer's hat again to tend to any equine problems.

Come 4pm, it's back to the office for afternoon surgery, swiftly followed by dinner with the family before the horses are given their evening feed at

9.30pm. Mix in a steady stream of calls from jockeys seeking medical advice and you have an average day in the life of a true jumping enthusiast.

"I've never been a great bystander and to be riding against the top jockeysat 47 gives me great satisfaction," he said. "We picked up plenty of prize money with horses who were supposedly outclassed at the last Cheltenham meeting and anything that is sound and has the blessing of the owner will be back there this weekend."

Pritchard's Cheltenham runners are likely to include Happy Hussar, and Ashgar.

It's all in stark contrast to Johnson, who will be at Cheltenham hoping to extend a purple patch.

A remarkable six winners at the Open meeting last month were headlined by Celestial Gold's win in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. A memorable four-timer at Newbury 10 days ago climaxed when the same horse landed the Hennessy, while Well Chief gave the mighty Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop a run for their money in Saturday's Tingle Creek Chase.

"I've never had a spell like this in all the years I've owned horses," he said.

Stormez, Comply Or Die and Vodka Bleu also carried Johnson's blue and green colours to high-profile victories during November and, with well over £600,000 in prize money in the bag, Ladbrokes make him 1-3 to beat JP McManus in the race to be champion owner.

However, all this has been achieved without the assistance of Our Vic who Pipe describes as "still the best in our yard".

Johnson admits his nerves will tighten up a notch if the powerful six-year-old makes his long-awaited reappearance in Saturday's £110,000 bonusprint.com Gold Cup.

He said: "I must have had over 50 winners at Cheltenham, but coming into that winner's enclosure after a big race gives you a feeling like no other.

"Martin has always felt Our Vic is better than Celestial Gold. Tom Costello, who sold both horses to me, feels the same. Our Vic has done extremely well since last season and let's hope he can keep the run going."