Reigning Champion jump jockey Richard Johnson took five victories in one day as he looks to retain his title from rivals Harry Skelton and Brian Hughes.

The 41-year-old, from Pembridge, first won the champions crown in 2016 after finishing runner up on 16 occasions before retaining it last year.

He was helped in his quest for a third title at Perth races on Saturday when he teamed up with Irish trainer Gordon Elliott to claim a magnificent 98-1 five-timer.

Irish handler Elliott is a regular visitor to the Scottish track and along with the champion jockey, they both enjoyed another excellent day’s racing.

The winning streak began with 4-1 shot Make My Heart Fly who cruised home to a 16-length romp in the first division of the three-mile handicap hurdle, whist the team also landed the second division with King's Song.

In between those victories Johnson partnered Galvin and despite his mount racing keenly over the two mile trip the 1-4 favourite had too many guns for his four rivals as they cruised home one and three-quarter length winners in the two-mile maiden hurdle.

The 11-4 Cubomania ensured Elliott and Johnson won the first four races of the day with victory in the novices' handicap chase, but they suffered their first reversal in the two-mile handicap hurdle when their runner High Expectations who held every chance at the final hurdle was narrowly outpointed on the run-in by a neck from the winner Caius, partnered by title rival Brian Hughes.

The Johnson/Elliott partnership saw their Anytime Now sent off as the 7-4 favourite for the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle but they could only finish a disappointing third after making jumping errors.

However, the day ended on a triumphant note when 8-13 favourite Carrie Des Champs cruised home an easy seven length winner in the concluding mares' bumper.