Richard Johnson seizes his chance to secure 2000th career victory

Richard Johnson said he felt "fantastic" after becoming only the second jump jockey to ride 2000 winners when guiding home Fighting Chance in the fifth race at Newbury.

The 32-year-old Englishman made all on board the 4-1 favourite in the 2m2½f heat and then made it 2001 career wins with Duke Of Lucca in his fifth and final ride of the afternoon.

Johnson's finished second with Rouigham in his first race today and was then a faller on board Quinz in the 3m Novices' Chase. He guided Tzora into third in the fourth race on the card before his landmark win.

Johnson, who has been runner-up 11 times to Tony McCoy in the jockey's championship, said: "It's fantastic to get there and there are too many people to thank. It was frustrating after the second ride when the horse [Quinz] fell but it's lovely to get to this mark."

Champion jump jockey McCoy was the first to break the 2,000 barrier.

Johnson had been stuck on 1,999 winners yesterday after Folkestone was abandoned due to frost and the freezing conditions are likely to play havoc with meetings all over the country this week.

Trainer Gary Moore will be hoping Ascot's two-day fixture goes ahead on Saturday as he's bullish about the chances of Harry Tricker in the big betting race, the Ladbroke Handicap.