NEWLY crowned champion jockey Richard Johnson never had any doubt where his destiny lay, according to one of his former teachers.

Jill Wictome, who taught the star horseman at Hereford Cathedral Junior School around 30 years, has a copy of the school magazine from July 1986, in which a number of pupils were asked what their ambitions were when they grew up.

"I am going to be a top champion National Hunt jockey and be like John Francome," wrote the then eight-year-old Johnson.

"I will try to get a ticket so I can ride in the Grand National and try to win it 11 times because John Francome won it 10 times.

"I would like it if one or two of my children would be a jockey."

Strangely, the young Johnson was clearly confused as his hero Francome, while a seven-time champion jockey, never had a Grand National winner.

And that is something that he has in common with Johnson who, despite around 20 appearances in the most famous of races, has never found himself in the winner's enclosure.

Johnson was finally crowned champion jockey at Sandown on Saturday after finishing runner-up to Sir Anthony McCoy on 16 occasions.