Paul Nicholls secured his 3,000th winner in Britain when Dr Sanderson won the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Novices' Hurdle at Ludlow.
Already champion trainer 10 times, Nicholls holds an almost unassailable lead over his nearest rival Nicky Henderson in his quest to reclaim a title he last won in 2015-16.
The victory of Dr Sanderson, under amateur jockey Bryan Carver, never looked in any doubt for the whole race and the 9-4 shot pulled clear to beat Rapper cosily.
Nicholls won his 3,000th race back in February when Capitaine scored at Taunton.
That included 25 in Ireland, four in France and 11 on the Flat.
