Big Interview - David Johnson

Ed Chamberlin interviews David Johnson and gets the name of a couple of rising stars for readers to follow!

Sky Sports News' Ed Chamberlin continues his new feature by interviewing top owner David Johnson - and there are a couple of horses to follow for readers!

David Johnson's colours are one of the most recognisable in racing. He has owned numerous Cheltenham Festival winners, a Grand National winner and landed some famous gambles but in recent years his number of horses has dwindled dramatically. However, with business picking up again that could be about change..... Ed: Does your passion for racing still burn as bright as it did five or six years ago? DJ: Absolutely it does. Work was the driver for me to be able to have all the horses that I did. We've had a tough time in the finance sector over the last three years. We used to borrow money in the wholesale market which is effectively warehouse providing. The armageddon of America, the subprime mortgage crisis happened, and banks stopped lending, which cut back our ability to trade so sadly I couldn't afford to keep buying horses but because of that my passion has actually grown. Although I have less in number I still have some quality horses. I believe I have anyway. Ed: How many horses in training have you got now? DJ: With legs and horses of my own, somewhere between 20 and 25. Ed: What's the most you've had at any one time? DJ: 100. Ed: Wow. DJ: I had 112 winners in one season. Timmy Murphy rode every one of those winners, which was quite something Ed: Have you had a favourite horse? DJ: Tough question. We led the way buying horses from France before Messrs Nicholls and Henderson. Cyfor Malta was special and I reckon the best horse never to win a Gold Cup. I loved Lady Cricket and Challenger Du Luc and I suppose Comply Or Die has to be up there as he won the Grand National. Deep down though Well Chief is my favourite. Ed: What's your finest moment in racing? DJ: Winning the Grand National. Although it's a handicap, it's the race every National Hunt owner wants to win and I reckon if you asked JP McManus, Trevor Hemmings, Graham Wylie and Andy Stewart that's the race they'd most want to win. It's an exclusive club that's done so, which JP joined last season. Ed: Worst moment? DJ: Probably the Grand National as well as it's been unlucky as well as lucky for me. I've lost two horses round there when I've had my family with me. That feeling when your horse hasn't come back and you're walking round the course trying to find them is horrendous. Picking the tarpaulin up to see if the horse is yours is a sobering moment, particularly when you have a horse-mad daughter with you. Ed: We've got used to seeing your family leading horses in to the winners' enclosure, are they still as keen as ever? DJ: Absolutely. My wife enjoys the social side of racing as we've developed a lot of friends through racing and there's great camaraderie amongst national hunt owners, which is different to the flat. My daughter rides out, has a couple of retired racehorses and she loves it to bits. Ed: I know from trying to track you down how busy you are, so how does a businessman like yourself keep up with all the racing. Have you got a TV in the office? DJ: Yes. I have RUK, ATR and SIS in the office. My office looks a bit like a betting shop. My fellow directors and investors know that if I didn't have the televisions I'd be out at the races so I'm helping them by being here. I have the racing on all the time - no sound but in the background. Ed: Which is the best horse you have at the moment? DJ: I've got four or five really good ones. Ghizao, which I own with Andy Stewart, who I reckon is the best two-mile novice chaser around. He'll have a great chance in the Arkle. Jessie's Dream should have won the other day in Ireland and it wasn't Timmy's finest hour. He put his hand up and told me he should have won and that he was sorry. The ground was desperate and Jessie's Dream wants a sounder surface and Timmy wanted to be easy on him. We all have off days and I think he's got a great each-way chance in the RSA at Cheltenham. 16/1 after the race was a big price. I can't see Jessie's Dream being out of the frame. Great Endeavour has an entry in the Gold Cup for if the field breaks up, though the 3m handicap on the first day is the plan. Ed: Your best chance for Cheltenham? DJ: Ghizao in the Arkle. It's been a lucky race for me as I've won the Arkle five or six times and this horse is laid out for the race. Forget his other entries, that's the one we are banking on and I think he'll go close. Ed: One horse for Sky Sports viewers to follow long term? DJ: Without doubt Our Father. I think he will go to the very top. He'll have two more runs this season at small tracks and then we'll put him away for next season to go novice chasing. This is a serious horse. He came from Tony Costello, is unbeaten and I'm very excited about him. Ed: You're a good judge, is there anything you fancy for Cheltenham? DJ: I wait for nearer the time. I remember Martin Pipe winning with one of mine and Jonjo O'Neill came over to Martin and said "how could you win that race, mine had two stone in hand?" Martin turned to him and said "I had three stone in hand". True story. Ed: As an owner, if you had one wish for the sport what would it be? DJ: To get more people coming through the gates. I'm an owner and prize money does count. I'm privileged enough to own horses as they are expensive things to keep and winning a race sometimes doesn't even pay a month's training fees. But putting money to one side, it's crucial racing brings more people and families in through the gates. Racing needs to be more family friendly. Ed: What other sports do you enjoy? DJ: I love watching golf and enjoy all sports bar motor sports but having been born in the east end, football and West Ham have always been close to my heart. I grew up with the likes of Martin Peters and Geoff Hirst, who are still good pals. That's what working class people did, standing on the terraces watching football. Ed: How often do you get to see West Ham? DJ: Not as much as I'd like as on a Saturday I'd rather go to the races. Probably between six and ten times a year. I was born within a stones throw of the ground. I know Sir Alex Ferguson pretty well and we're good friends but your roots are your roots, however infuriating West Ham can be. I remember watching Harry Redknapp getting sent off once for pushing Billy Bremner in the back and even our own fans shouting "Harry, come back and get your handbag". Ed: Are the club in good hands? DJ: I know David Sullivan pretty well through horse racing as he has got a stud farm up near Stanstead airport and I had lunch there recently with David and his racing manager. I'm sure their heart is in it and they want the best for West Ham. Some of their bad publicity is justified though as they haven't done themselves great favours. For example, saying every player was up for sale hardly inspired people. Ed: Ever tempted to invest? DJ: Well, I half owned Colchester United for a while with a friend and got them out and then back in to the league but football clubs are worse than racehorses. It was an enlightening two or three years that's for sure and I still have shares in the club. You just pour money in and the crowds have a go at you. It always seems to be the directors' fault At least horses can't talk to you. Ed: Why are owners of football clubs less patient with managers than racehorse owners with trainers?DJ: Racehorse owners are patient though one or two have thrown their toys out and moved their horses from trainer to trainer. The fact is a good horse trains itself so if you've got a good horse any trainer should be able to get the best out of it. The secret to a good trainer is to get the best out of a bad horse and place a bad horse in the right race. That's why Martin Pipe was head and shoulders above anyone else. David doesn't have as good horses as Paul Nicholls but still does well as he places them cleverly. Moving trainers doesn't work. I've got three or four trainers who are different personalities and are all very capable. Ed: What music do you listen to in the car? DJ: I'm boring and almost frightened to tell you. I love the '70s stuff and have a few Frank Sinatra CDs in the car. Ed: Finally, would the message be that David Johnson is re-emerging as a major force again? DJ: My passion for racing is greater than ever but it's a question of what you can afford. A lot of big owners have suffered. I'd sooner pay people to come to work and keep them in jobs than buy a racehorse. The staff come first but when things go well, I can enjoy my passion. I've got four of five nice offspring to come from Lady Cricket plus some Galileos and Tiger Hills. They could be brilliant or useless but are bred to be kings and I have lots to look forward to. Ed: Good luck David. DJ: Thanks Ed.