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Richard Johnson pays tribute as Wishfull Thinking is retired

Image: Wishfull Thinking: Retired after Cheltenham run

Champion jockey-elect Richard Johnson paid a glowing tribute to Wishfull Thinking following what turned out to be the veteran chaser's swansong at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

The Philip Hobbs-trained 13-year-old has been a fantastic servant to connections over the years, winning 12 of his 42 starts including major victories at Aintree and Punchestown in the spring of 2011.

His last triumph came in the 2014 Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon in December 2014 and after finishing down the field in Cheltenham's Silver Trophy, his retirement was confirmed.

Johnson said: "This horse has been a central figure for most of my career as a jockey and he is just an absolute star.

"There aren't many horses that win at the Aintree and Punchestown Festivals in the same year and it takes a lot for a horse to come back and win races like the Old Roan and the Peterborough Chase as a 12-year-old.

"I'm sure that he will now be afforded the most wonderful retirement, which he fully deserves."

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On top of his dozen wins, Wishfull Thinking was placed on a further 13 occasions and earned almost £500,000 in prize-money.

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