IN any other era Richard Johnson would have claimed at least one National Hunt Jockey's title.

Unfortunately the presence of the ubiquitous Tony McCoy means he is condemned to finishing a perpetual runner-up in the annual race for the championship. Even though injury has temporarily sidelined McCoy, he still holds a whopping 111 lead over Johnson for the current campaign (244-133).

Nonetheless Richard is a very determined character and he'll be looking to cut the deficit at Chepstow today where he has several fancied rides.

Johnson's lucrative afternoon should get underway smoothly enough aboard Jahash (1.45) in the opening two mile Novices' Hurdle. According to the official ratings, Jahash, already successful at Taunton and twice placed since, ought really to make short work of his relatively modest rivals.

Persuading his next ride, Luke Warm (2.20), to put his best foot forward in the Aardvarc Cleaning Handicap Chase might not be quite so easy.

Luke Warm is a consistent enough individual, however, so far this season he is proving devilishly difficult to win with.

That said, the form of his latest third-placing to Commanche Jim at Fontwell holds up well in the context of today's task, and with Johnson's extra vigour in the saddle Luke Warm might just about be up to the job.

John O'Shea has secured Richard's services in the following Griffiths Signs Selling Hurdle for his seven-year-old gelding, Lord Brex (2.55).

Lord Brex is no world-beater, but he has won in the grade before and didn't do badly when chasing home Hugo de Perro at Carlisle earlier on in the month.

Philip Hobbs and Henry Daly supply Johnson with most of his firepower and it is the latter who is responsible for Flying Fortress (3.30) in the Leatherby & Christopher Novices' Handicap Chase.

Flying Fortress has always shaped liked a fledgling chaser and he made a fair fist of his first attempt over the bigger obstacles when third at Huntingdon 17 days ago. The winner of that contest, Tarasco, has since gone in again, giving the form a real watertight feel. There will be thrills and spills galore in the Hunters' Chase at Ludlow, run for the right to acquire the Magnus-Allcroft Memorial Trophy for one year.

The rapidly-drying ground will have fettled the prospects of at least half the field, a remark which does not apply to previous course and distance scorer Hee's A Dancer (4.55), who loves to hear his hooves rattle.

l Supporters of Janus left Sedgefield in a good mood yesterday courtesy of his winning nap, Tomenoso, who obliged at 4-1.

l Mary Reveley has lodged an appeal against the £2,200 fine issued to her by the stewards at Newcastle over the performance of her novice hurdler Magical Field, writes TATTENHAM.

The Saltburn trainer, who on Monday was given an extension to the appeal deadline in order to consider all the visual evidence available to the Newcastle stewards, confirmed yesterday she will go to Portman Square to contest the decision.

Mrs Reveley had earlier described the verdict of the local stewards as ''laughable'', especially as her stable had gone nearly five weeks without a winner.

Yesterday she was more circumspect, but was still clearly very aggrieved over the incident which also saw Magical Field banned for 40 days and jockey Dominic Elsworth suspended for seven days for his riding of the mare who finished fourth, beaten 15-and-a-half lengths.

''I was struggling for winners and it's just not on,'' she said. ''The injustice is so much it's just unbelievable.

''I've always had a very fair hearing at the Jockey Club and I'd like to go because there are a few questions I'd like to ask.''

She declined to expand on what those questions are. But in the immediate aftermath of the race, she had queried how she could be blamed for the running of the mare who had lost her position in the back straight and stayed on through beaten horses