Johnson rides Approach in Betfair Hurdle Richard Johnson will partner the Willie Millins-trained Final Approach in Saturday's Betfair Hurdle at Newbury for which 22 runners were declared this morning. Last season's MCR Hurdle and County Hurdle winner will be the only Irish-trained runner in the line-up for one of the richest hurdle races in Europe after Sailors Warn was taken out along with Orzare. Champion jockey Tony McCoy has opted to ride exciting novice Darlan in preference to previous winner Get Me Out Of Here (Richie McLernon). Nicky Henderson's charge is second favourite behind Zarkandar, while the master of Seven Barrows has also declared Soldatino (Barry Geraghty) and Erricht (Andrew Tinkler). Paul Nicholls, trainer of the favourite, also runs Brampour (Harry Derham) and Empire Levant (Darly Jacob) with Ruby Walsh taking the ride aboard Zarkandar.
