A graduate of the Racing Academy, County Kildare and formerly conditional jockey to Stuart Crawford, who is based at Newlands Farm, near Larne, County Antrim, Dylan Johnston rode his first winner under rules, Willyouwalkwithme, trained by Harry Smyth, in a handicap hurdle at Downpatrick on June 13, 2021. He subsequently crossed the Irish Sea to join Rose Dobbin in South Hazelrigg, Northumbria and rode his first winner for the yard, Cliffs Of Dooneen, in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Carlisle on April 16, 2022.
Johnston subsequently moved south to join Olly Murphy at Warren Chase Stables, in Wilmcote, near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, for whom he won the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock Park on Pickanumber on May 11, 2024. Shortly afterwards, he was offered the job as principal jockey to powerful owner Dai Walters, the founder of Ffos Las Racecourse, and is now based predominantly with Sam Thomas in Lisvane, Cardiff, who also holds his licence.
After riding just a single winner on British soil in 2021/22, Johnston increased his seasonal tally to eight winners in 2022/23 and 19 in 2023/24. He is currently enjoying his most successful season yet in 2024/25, having ridden 22 winners so far, at a strike rate of 15%, and amassed over £450,000 in prize money. His association with Walters has already yielded two high-profile winners, Lump Sum in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las in October and Steel Ally in an equally valuable handicap hurdle at Haydock Park in November. Johnston looks a live contender for the 2024/25 conditional jockeys’ title and currently lies second in table behind Freddie Gingell.
