Johnson launches Aintree assault as he chases magical 100 mark.

Byline: Neil Morrice 

D AVID JOHNSON is to launch a full-scale assault on Aintree this week as he closes in on the personal milestone of owning 100 winners in a jump season, writes Neil Morrice.

At Cheltenham Johnson saw Zeta's River balloted out of the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase and Medison fail to make the cut in the Coral Cup.

Following the banning of his promising Celtic Son for 40 days after trainer Martin Pipe had been fined under the non-triers' rule for his running at Exeter in the autumn, all three are expected to run at Aintree.

Johnson, whose total of 93 winners this season is already a record, said yesterday: ``It's hard to believe that I had three favourites who were denied a run at Cheltenham, but I'm assured by Martinthat they are all set to run at Aintree this week.

``They are good horses and Martin tells me they're as well as ever.

``It's a personal ambition to reach the 100-winner mark, which no-one has ever done before.''

Celtic Son and Medison have several options at the meeting and their targets will not be decided until Johnson and Pipe have examined the entries.

However, the lightly raced Zeta's River is set to tackle the Betfair.com Handicap Chase on Friday.

After winning the Imperial Cup at Sandown last month in impressive fashion, Medison was not only prevented from running for the prize-money in the Coral Cup, but also from going for a pounds 60,000 bonus for following up in that Festival contest.

CAPTION(S):

Zeta's River: will run in the Betfair.com Handicap Chase