DICKIE Johnson produced an even better effort when Gordon Elliott’s blinkered Faraway Mountain, 4/1, held Stuart Crawford’s Knocklayde Sno Cat by a short-head in the opening JMIFA Maiden Hurdle on Thursday at Perth.

The 7/2 joint-favourite Le Grand Chene completed a stable double when taking the two and a half mile handicap chase in the hands of Henry Brooke, Johnson having been unseated and stood down following the previous race. Le Grand Chene tracked Royal Macnab and joined issue four out before pulling clear to prevail by over four lengths.