Richard Johnson was left ruing the one that got away after partnering a 36 to 1 plus treble at Wincanton yesterday following wins for Jingle Rose, Castle Lynch and Good Time Melody.

Title-chasing Johnson looked like making it four winners aboard Meadows Boy in the concluding Cerne Abbas Novices' Handicap Hurdle when disaster struck and the partnership parted company after an error at the final flight with their closest rivals 30 lengths adrift.

The incident left an embarrassed and dejected Johnson with a long walk back to the weighing room.

However, on the bright side the three-timer took his tally to 114, narrowing the gap between himself and Tony McCoy to 12 winners as the champion was out of luck at Leicester.