Richard Johnson secured his 3,000th career success under National Hunt rules on Garde La Victoire at Ludlow.
Philip Hobbs' charge was sent off the 1-6 favourite to dispose of three rivals and did so in workmanlike fashion in the Racing UK Winter Season Ticket Novices' Chase.
Gino Trail made the running but Garde La Victoire was never far away and pulled away from the second last to score by five lengths. Doctor Harper stayed on to grab second place.
The landmark triumph took Johnson's tally for the campaign to 176 as he continues to maintain a big lead in his bid to be champion jockey for the first time after being runner-up 15 times to Tony McCoy.