RICHARD Johnson landed five straight wins at Stratford last weekend.

The Toddington based jockey snapped up a late hat-trick on Friday evening and then set Sunday's card rolling with an early double.

Johnson, one of the best dressed men at Royal Ascot recently, certainly lit up Ladies Night at Luddington Road after finishing a fighting second 25-1 shot Seek the Faith in the night's second.

The same race saw local hope 9-4 favourite Skram come to grief at the sixth, making it a mixed night for Robin Dickin, who was all smiles after Bob's Best, ridden by Xavier Aizpuru, and owned locally by Ron Harris and Ray Jefferies, had been placed third in the opening hurdle race.

Favourite Fountain Bank prevailed in that one but Skram's demise left the door open for Millcroft Riviera to take the second with Andrew Thornton on board.

Odds-on shot Major Lando was a clear winner of the third but Tony McCoy then took a back seat as his old rival Johnson took over.

Warren Marston rode a fine race to land second behind McCoy on David Wintle's River Blue but it was Johnson, riding for Jonjo O'Neill, who steered Thanks Keith to victory in a three-mile steeple chase.

PL:27fast.jpg:Stretching out: Xavier Aizpuru and Bob's Best storm home in third place

The penultimate race provided the best finish of the night when Gaysun edged at out a gallant Nordic Crest by a head to take the Why Publications Handicap Steeple Chase.

Johnson's treble on In the Flow saw the winning jockey get one over on both McCoy and O'Neill, beating Martin Pipe's Deferlant, ridden by the champion jockey, into second ahead of O'Neill trained Zsarabak.

Spectrometer and Gladiateur IV helped Johnson set a scorching pace to match the weather two days later, the latter edging out the Pipe/McCoy gelding Galant Moss.

Johnson took a well-earned rest as 14-1 chance AS Jim landed a Selling Handicap Hurdle race and then was left out of the placings as Banbury's Peter Webber landed the fourth race with 9-1 hope Happicat.

Irish hope Water Font gave Johnson the chance to land a second successive treble but it was Stewarts Pride who notched up a hat-trick in the Stratford Summer National.

Dickin's day was made even worse when the in form Wren's Island failed to make an impression in the penultimate race after Skram's second appearance at Luddington Road ended in disappointment as Johnson's mount Gladiateur landed the Cotswold jockey a nap hand of weekend winners.