Richard Johnson recorded another landmark winner in his prolific career as St Saviour at Ludlow gave Britain’s champion jockey-elect his 3,000th career success.
The 38-year-old now needs just four more wins to reach 3,000 over jumps.
Tony McCoy is only other rider in Britain or Ireland to achieve that feat.
Riding the Philip Hobbs-trained St Saviour for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, victory was fairly straightforward on the promising four-year-old, who made his debut a winning one in the Best Wishes For 2016 Juvenile Maiden Hurdle.
Leading two from home, he came well clear for a 21-length call from The Coffee Hunter as the even-money favourite.
Johnson is carrying all before him this term and is virtually assured of a first title in April, one that eluded him when the now-retired McCoy dominated the scene.
His career tally is made up of 2,977 British jump wins, 17 in Ireland, four Flat wins and two international victories.
Johnson rode his first winner under Rules on Rusty Bridge at Hereford on 30 April, 1994 and has had 16,744 rides.
His 1000th winner was on Quedex at Stratford on 19 April, 2003, while his 2,000th came courtesy of Fighting Chance at Newbury on 16 December, 2009.
