This is an interesting question posed by the instigator of the thread.
The logistics of the Johnston operation are staggering when you look at the number of runners he has all over the country on most days. With that number of horses to train and transport, there is little room for the manipulation some posters here and on Betfair imply.
I think it’s just a matter of training horses in batches and letting them find their races for themselves.
I’m sure his motto (Always Trying) is quite correct, and it is very unlikely that Tartan Jura would be tailed off so he could win a £2000 race at Catterick next time out. The course and conditions were ideal today, and anyway, how many times do jockeys need to be told not to let Joe Fanning get away from them on a front-runner?
As for Overstep, I had a tiny each-way on him just because I was loafing around with the TV on. My reasons, for what they’re worth, was it looked like a dirty day with the ground softening and Overstep had had a couple of races on firm ground when he was outpaced. Uphill at Hamilton in the soft, Fanning out on his own, why shouldn’t he make it awkward for the less experienced two-year-olds?
Johnston’s blunderbuss approach adds hugely to the tapestry of the sport, even if some his results do make me laugh out loud.
But as for the aspersions, he would need ten brains to set up tuppeny-h’apenny coups in an operation of such complexity.
Having said all that, I like to keep an eye on the market with him; some of his employees obviously know which batch is in the mood.
