RICHARD Johnson may have lost his crown as National Hunt Champion but he is battling hard to re-gain it this season and the Kingsland jockey scored a double with Keep Rolling and Demopolis at Hereford’s pre-Christmas meeting.

The meeting opened with the first Johnson winner as he and the 10/11 favourite Keep Rolling never saw a rival as they sauntered to a 17 length success over his 11 rivals in the two-mile three and a half furlong event.

Later in the afternoon his mount Demopolis was sent off 11/10 favourite in the two-mile handicap hurdle and although pressed throughout the final circuit had one and three quarters length over runner-up Cawthorne Lad at the post.

Long Call finished a further 15 lengths back in third place so giving trainer Phillip Hobbs a double as well.

Johnson, who has 52 wins to his name this campaign, said after his second winner of the day: “He ran well at Market Rasen last time, so lovely to get his head in front again," Johnson said.

"The Hobbs team are in very very good form.”

The well regarded £130,000 Irish point to point recruit Undersupervision made a winning debut under rules when he triumphed for father- son combination of Sam and Nigel Twiston-Davies in the extended three-mile novice hurdle.

Sent off 13/8 joint favourite with Everything Now from the in-form yard of Tom Symonds, Undersupervision was always at the head of affairs and showed a good application to stay on strongly and record a two and a half length win.

Sam Twiston-Davies was full of praise for the winner commenting: “He’s still learning but jumped beautifully, it’s very testing out there”.

Trainer of the moment Tom Symonds may have been out of luck with his earlier runner Everything Now but the Hoarwithy trainer rounded off the meeting with another winner when his well-bred 10,000 Euro purchase Merry Mistress produced a taking performance in the concluding Bumper race.

Always travelling well for jockey Tom Bellamy the winner, sent off 11/1, quickened up well on the heavy ground at the furlong marker and strode away impressively to score by eight and a half lengths from the favourite Ballybough Mary and the winner looks good value for its purchase price.

Owners William and Angela Rucker have another promising staying chaser on their hands with the win of Fado des Bross in the extended three mile Beginners Chase.

Ridden by Adam Wedge for trainer Evan Williams the French bred five year-old was always travelling like a winner and looks to have a promising future over fences.