McCoy salutes 'brilliant' Johnson

Richard Johnson has spent his career in the shadow of Tony McCoy, but the perennial champion was keen to proclaim his rival as an underrated force as he became just the second jump jockey to pass the 2,000-winner mark.

Johnson has finished runner-up to McCoy in the title race for 11 of the last 12 seasons and it was appropriate that McCoy was aboard second-placed Wheels Up as the landmark victory came through Fighting Chance in the Powersolve Electronics Greatwood Charity Handicap Chase at Newbury.