Nicky Richards reached a significant landmark when Jehol De Thaix provided him the 1,000 th winner of his career in the opener at Newcastle on Tuesday.

The 5-2 possibility overcame some questionable jumping to hold off Nosy Neighbour in the 2m6f novice handicap difficulty under Danny McMenamin

The Cumbria-based handler had actually been stuck on 999 winners for 18 days considering that Jamesieconn scored at Doncaster on March 13 since when he had actually saddled 18 runners.

His last 3 runners had been pulled up and he stated: "It's excellent to lastly get the monkey off my back and get to the 1,000 as we've waited enough time.

"Danny drew my attention to the fact we were surrounding the landmark when we were in the car one day a few months back and he was taking a look at his iPad as he does the majority of the time and and I believe we were 16 short then."

McMenamin told Sky Sports Racing: "It's an honour and a privilege to ride Nicky's 1,000 winner. I've been with him from the start and its a fantastic achievement. Nicky got a letter this morning from someone congratulating him on reaching the 1,000 which was a bit early but I said to him that we 'd get it today."

Richards quickly proceeded to 1,001 winners in the future the card when Smokeringinthedark landed the 2m4 1/2 f handicap difficulty to offer him a double and McMenamin a treble as the jockey also won the 2m7 1/2 f newbie handicap chase on Aill Dubh.

He has been training given that 1998, when he took over the licence on the death of his dual Grand National-winning dad Gordon.

His very first winner came at Carlisle, where he took a two-runner race with Better Times Ahead - a chaser who had formerly led Gordon Richards' funeral cortege. His most prolific season was 2006-07, when he won 64 races, consisting of two Grade ones with elite chaser Monet's Garden.

Turpin Green ended up third in the Gold Cup for him that season and other excellent horses he has trained include Scottish Grand National winner Takingrisks, double Grade 1 scorer Simply Ned and Anglers Crag, who landed the Eider Chase at Newcastle last month.

Three of the very best Nicky Richards horses

Monet's Garden

This dashing grey was not just among Nicky Richards' biggest horses but likewise one of the very best chasers trained in the north this century.

He was an outstanding winner of the Grade 1 Ascot Chase in 2007 and 2010 and the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon in 2008, however it was his exploits at Aintree that actually made his name.

Monet's Garden won there 5 times in overall, taking the Old Roan Chase and Melling Chase two times each. Those were amongst 17 wins for a horse who earned ₤ 683,000 and has actually a bar named in his honour at Carlisle.

Simply Ned

The classy two-mile chaser won 8 times in Britain however his 2 finest days was available in Ireland.

He was obstructed on the altercation when a close second in a Grade 1 race at Leopardstown's Christmas conference in 2017 and granted the race at an inquiry. But he required no assistance from the stewards 12 months later on when he took the same race completely on benefit, leading close home under Mark Walsh.

Takingrisks

Richards has yet to replicate his father by winning the Grand National but he landed the Scottish variation with a 25-1 shot who made it through a bad mistake at the first fence to score by a definitive four lengths at Ayr in 2019.

The doughty stayer likewise took the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle that year and was nursed back to form to spring a 40-1 surprise in the Great Yorkshire Chase at the age of 12 at Doncaster in 2021.

Nicky Richards' 1,000 wins as fitness instructor:

986 British dives

11 British Flat

3 Irish dives

Nicky Richards CV

Full name Nicholas Gordon Richards

Born February 25, 1956

Father Gordon Richards (1930-98), fitness instructor of Titus Oates, Lucius, Hallo Dandy, One Man

Career as amateur rider 39 wins 1971-75; best winners The Spaniard (Fred Withington Chase), Titus Oates, Canadius (Princess Royal Hurdle); champion amateur on Flat 1973 (5 wins)

Assistant to Gordon Richards, Greystoke, near Penrith, Cumbria

Stables as fitness instructor Rectory Farm, Greystoke, near Penrith, Cumbria given that 1998

First winner as trainer Better Times Ahead (ridden by Tony Dobbin) handicap chase, Carlisle, October 9, 1998

First big-race winner Feels Like Gold (1999 Becher Chase)

Melling Chase winner Monet's Garden (2007 )

Ascot Chase winner Monet's Garden (2007, 2010)

Old Roan Chase winner Monet's Garden (2007 (beat Kauto Star), 2009, 2010)

Peterborough Chase winner Monet's Garden (2008 )

Paddy's Rewards Club Chase winner Simply Ned (2017, 2018)

Scottish Grand National winner Takingrisks (2019 )

Caspian Caviar (December) Gold Cup winner Guitar Pete (2017 )

Sky Bet Chase winner Takingrisks (2021 )

Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner The French Furze (2003 )

Liverpool Hurdle winner Monet's Garden (2005 )

Ascot Hurdle winner Monet's Garden (2004 )

Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Noble Alan (2009 )

Mersey Novices' Hurdle winner Turpin Green (2005 )

Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle winner Faasel (2005 )

Placed in Cheltenham Gold Cup Turpin Green (3rd to Kauto Star, 2007)

Pattern-race treble Aintree, April 7, 2005 (Monet's Garden, Faasel, Turpin Green)

Highest-rated horses (RPRs) 168 Turpin Green, 167 Monet's Garden, 164 Eduard, 164 Simply Ned, 157 Faasel

Most prolific Grade 1 winner Monet's Garden (3 )

Grade 1 wins 6

Highest position in fitness instructors' champion tenth in 2005-06 and 2006-07

Most wins in a season 64 in 2006-07

1,000 th winner Jehol De Thaix, Newcastle, March 31, 2026

Compiled by John Randall

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