Richard Johnson will be out of action until Tuesday with flu

Richard Johnson will be out of action until Tuesday at the earliest as he continues to recover from the illness that forced him to miss the ride on Native River at Newbury on Saturday.

Johnson steered both Multiculture and Rolling Maul to third place in the opening two races at the Berkshire circuit, but gave up the ride on Colin Tizzard's Hennessy Gold Cup and Welsh Grand National hero due to feeling unwell.

Tizzard said afterwards: "I walked out with Dickie (Johnson) and he said he would love to ride him but just felt he couldn't do the horse justice. He had this flu and he felt terrible."

The champion jockey watched on from the sidelines as Native River firmed up his claims for next month's Cheltenham Gold Cup with an assured victory under substitute jockey Aidan Coleman and did not take up any of his subsequent mounts.

Johnson had four booked rides at Exeter this afternoon, but will not be in action, and did not appear among the declared jockeys for Monday's National Hunt meetings at Catterick and Plumpton.

Tom O'Brien will replace him on Mister Big in the Champions League Betting At 188Bet "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle and Gala Ball in the Mobile Betting At 188Bet Novices' Chase.

Paddy Brennan will take the ride on Whatmore in the Free Bet At 188Bet Novices' Hurdle and James Best will be aboard Fingal Bay in the Pertemps Qualifier.