GETTY Native River won the Gold Cup but jockey Richard Johnson was punished

Johnson won the Gold Cup back in 2000 with Looks Like Trouble but has not triumphed in the race since - until he upset favourite Might Bite in the 2018 edition. Native River made the running throughout and stayed on through heavy conditions to win the Festival’s biggest race of the week. However, Johnson’s celebrations had the edge taken off them an hour after the result when stewards informed him of a £6,500 fine and a seven-day ban for using his whip above the permitted level from approaching the second last fence. However, Johnson’s celebrations had the edge taken off them an hour after the result when stewards informed him of a £6,500 fine and a seven-day ban for using his whip above the permitted level from approaching the second last fence. Before learning of the fine, Johnson had paid tribute to the horse himself and refused to take much of the credit for the victory.

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“To be honest, I was a passenger,” Johnson said. “He's a fantastic horse to ride. He loves jumping and almost waits for things in front and just does what he has to. “I thought we had gone quite steady but sometimes when you are on a good horse it doesn't feel that quick, and I thought I needed to move it on a gear down the back straight and the more I asked from him, the better he jumped.” Native River and Might Bite took up the running in the early stages of the Gold Cup and opened up a lead over the field.