JOCKEY Richard Johnson was crowned Stobart Champion National Hunt jump jockey for a fourth consecutive year on Saturday.

He received the title at Sandown Park’s following another remarkable jumps campaign that saw him overcome the new challenge of rival Harry Skelton.

The Kingsland-based jockey had finished runner-up to AP McCoy on 16 occasions, before eventually claiming his first title and over the past three seasons has claimed the title with imperious ease

This time Johnson secured his 200th win just before the seasons end to finish comfortably ahead of second-placed Harry Skelton (178 wins) and third-placed Brian Hughes (146).

Amongst his victories this season, Johnson took the prestigious Kauto Star Novices’ Chase with La Bague Au Roi at Kempton on Boxing Day whilst other stand-out moments in the season included two improbable five-timers at Perth Racecourse, firstly in August 2018 and then again in September 2018.

In the run-up to being crowned Stobart Champion Jump Jockey, Johnson said: "It’s an amazing feeling to know that I will be getting my hands back on that trophy – believe me you do not get bored of that feeling and to do it for four years in a row is something I am immensely proud of!

“At the moment there’s nothing to suggest retirement is any time soon. It doesn’t sound much when you say four years but in this sport four years and that amount of winners will take a lot.

"I am lucky to have had a very long career and I am hoping I can extend it. I want to keep going for as long as possible. Even now after winning it (the Jump Jockey Championship) a couple of times I want to hold on to it as long as possible.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s the Cheltenham Festival or Plumpton on a Monday. For me, there’s nothing to compare. If I go a week without a winner, it feels like a year."