'˜I cannot believe that I've reached 3,000'

Runner-up to McCoy on no fewer than 16 occasions in the jockeys’ title race, the likeable Johnson moved a step closer to a long-awaited first championship when riding his 3,000th winner under National Hunt rules aboard the Philip Hobbs-trained Garde La Victoire at Ludlow.

A contender for the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival, it was heartwarming that the milestone was achieved in the two-tone blue colours of Diane and Grahame Whateley whose horses, like Wishfull Thinking, Captain Chris and Menorah, have provided Johnson with so many big-race triumphs.

The win took Johnson to the 176 winner mark for the current campaign, more than 70 successes clear of his nearest pursuer, and only one jockey – that man McCoy – has ridden more horses to victory over fences.

Yet it is a tribute to Johnson that he never once resented McCoy his glory – these two remarkable sportsmen claim to have spurred each other on – when his title dreams were being shattered for the best part of two decades.

Now 38, Johnson rode his first winner in April 1994 when Rusty Bridge prevailed at the now defunct Hereford while his first Cheltenham Festival victory was one of the most memorable – 40-1 outsider Anzum coming from a different parish to chin Le Coudray on the line in the 1999 Bonusprint Stayers’ Hurdle. The jockey’s great mentor David Nicholson, who trained the winner, was oblivious to the success – the first he knew was when he was mobbed by wellwishers.

However, while Johnson won a Gold Cup on Looks Like Trouble and a Champion Hurdle on Rooster Booster, one of the most stirring sights in recent years was the rider’s victory on The Grey Taylor at Wetherby on Charlie Hall Chase day in 2014 when he narrowly got the better of McCoy after the pair fought out a protracted struggle up the length of the home straight.

“It’s been amazing. I can’t believe I reached this number,” said Johnson who has spoken of a desire, injury permitting, to be a multiple champion. “The Whateleys have been fantastic owners, but all the owners have been very supportive. There are owners that when I started out were at David Nicholson’s and are now at Philip’s.

“My family have been very supportive, from Mum and Dad to my wife and three children. They are very understanding and they don’t see me much, but they are the ones who let me do what I love doing and they are always there when it doesn’t quite work out.

“I’ve many fond memories. Rusty Bridge and Derring Bridge are two horses that helped me get going and, it sounds soft, but it’s always special to ride a winner for Mum whether it was back then or now.

“The three stand-out horses though 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.”

Owner Diana Whateley described Johnson as “remarkable”.

“He takes it all in his stride, it’s amazing. He is very kind on all the horses he rides,” she said.

“He is very good at gauging their ability and not pushing them beyond what they can achieve while I would say there is nobody around that is as good in a finish as him.”