Another landmark winner for Johnson Richard Johnson rode his 3,000th winner over jumps in Britain and Ireland as Duke Des Champs avenged his narrow Ascot defeat of last month when turning the EBF Stallions "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle into a procession. After finding only Masterplan too good on his previous start, the Philip Hobbs-trained six-year-old gained compensation in emphatic fashion. Despite going through the odd flight the 10-11 favourite powered clear once sent into the lead after the second-last, before being eased down for a 14-length success. Victory completed a double for the winning trainer and Johnson, who struck earlier on the card with Rock The Kasbah. Johnson, who rode his 3,000th career winner over jumps at Ludlow earlier this month, said: "I'm lucky to do a job I love. "We've always felt that he is a work in progress, but I'm sure he will have a slightly bigger target after today. "Realistically he is a staying chaser in the future and it will depend on the ground where he goes next." He was taking his seasonal total to 178 and barring accidents appears guaranteed to land his first jockeys' championship, after being the perennial runner-up to the now-retired Sir Anthony McCoy, the only other rider to number 3,000 jumps winners. Speaking after his Ludlow strike, Johnson, who rode his first winner at the soon-to-reopen Hereford in April 1994, was quick to nominate the best horses he has ridden: "The three stand-out horses are Rooster Booster, Looks Like Trouble and Anzum, who was my first winner at the Cheltenham Festival and David Nicholson's last. "Again it sounds so corny, but I've been very spoilt with so many good horses."
