The prolific Johnson is Tony McCoy's closest rival Profile: Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson has become the eighth jump jockey to ride 1,000 winners.

The 25-year-old clinched his 1,000th victory when Quedex landed the opening race on the card at Stratford on Saturday.

Stan Mellor was the first to achieve the feat in December 1971, followed by John Francome, Peter Scudamore, Richard Dunwoody, Tony McCoy, Peter Niven and Adrian Maguire.

Johnson thought he had reached four figures of winners at Exeter on Tuesday when he was first past the post on Mrs Philip in the bumper.

But his celebrations were short-lived when the judges ruled that his horse had caused interference and they overturned the result.

After weighing in, Johnson said: "I've been very lucky to ride some good horses for some good trainers.

"I've had a couple of injuries over the last couple of years but I can't say enough about the trainers, the owners and the horses themselves."

Johnson rode his first winner in 1994 and became the youngest jockey to ride more than 100 winners in a season.

Despite breaking his leg for the second time in a year earlier this season, Johnson is second in the jockeys' championship race and is on target for 150 winners.

He partnered four winners at last month's Cheltenham Festival, including Rooster Booster in the Champion Hurdle.

In previous years, he has also won the Gold Cup and the Queen Mother Champion Chase and come second in the Grand National.

Johnson has been unfortunate in that he has had to ride in the same era as McCoy.

McCoy, the only other jump jockey still riding to have amassed more than 1,000 winners, has been champion jockey for the past seven seasons - Johnson has been runner-up for the last five.