Garde La Victoire gives Richard Johnson landmark 3,000th win

Richard Johnson celebrated another milestone moment at Ludlow yesterday after Garde La Victoire provided him with the 3,000th National Hunt winner of his career when maintaining his unbeaten record over fences in the Racing UK Winter Novices’ Chase.

Having reached the same total for both winners over jumps and on the flat at the track seven days ago, the 38-year-old secured the landmark achievement in the code he has made his name in with victory aboard the seven-year-old for his long-standing boss Philip Hobbs.

While Garde La Victoire still has work to do to match the likes of winning owner Diana Whateley’s star chasers Menorah, Captain Chris and Wishfull Thinking, the 1-6 favourite did what was required to follow up his Grade Two success at Cheltenham and make it three from three over fences with a five-length victory over the staying-on Doctor Harper.