RICHARD Johnson recorded a Friday night treble at Stratford last week.

Ladies Night at Luddington Road proved to be more than just a winner for Johnson when the best in fashion was paraded for the big crowd on a breezy evening.

Johnson lost out to old foe Tony McCoy in the opener as 15/8 favourite Supreme Quest held off the strong challenge of Hot to Trot in the Richardson Developments Handicap Hurdle.

Nigel Twiston-Davies was the successful trainer of Karolena Bay who romped to a fine win in the Selling Hurdle Race at the cheery odds of 9/1.

The third race of the night, the Richardson Developments Novices' Steeple Chase, was thought to be a two-horse race with McCoy and Johnson in direct opposition on Allimac and Just In Time.

However, Richard Thornton gave Super Dollar a fabulous ride and Allimac looked beaten with the line in sight. Johnson, though, managed to get one last effort from the odds-on shot and his run aptly summed up the narrow winner - Just In Time!

The pair were again expected to feature in the Marscom Horseboxes Handicap Steeple Chase, sponsored by the Bourton-on-the-Water company, and it was Johnson again who came out a winner on board Gladiateur IV.

Outsider Hurricane Lamp, with Thornton again in the saddle, gave the winner a superb run for its money but the 3/1 second favourite prevailed.

McCoy rode Sulphur Springs to third and the Martin Pipe trained gelding, like fourth-placed Last Option, is expected to be back at Stratford for the Horse and Hound Cup on June 1.

Favourite Mr Collins took a tumble three from home in the Novices' Hunters' Steeple Chase - a fall which allowed Samule to romp home ahead of the fancied Zaffaran Winds saddled by Marilyn Scudamore and ridden by Robert Biddlecombe, the son of former three-times champion jockey Terry Biddlecombe.

Johnson faced a stiff task in the last to complete his triple triumph when faced with the challenge of 4/11 favourite Might Montefalco, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, looking for a return to the winners' enclosure after Supreme Quest's victory.

It wasn't to be, however, as Johnson stormed in on 7/2 chance Jay Bee Ell for Alan King with Woolley, trained at Great Alne by John Allen a gallant fourth.

The next racing at Stratford is the Intrum Justitia two-day meeting on Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 when more than £125,000 of prize money will be up for grabs.

The main attraction is the 44th running of the Intrum Justitia (Horse and Hound) Final Champion Hunters' Steeple Chase which is worth £25,000 to the winner.