Barry Geraghty rode the 1,000th winner of his career aboard Duc De Regniere at Kempton.

The Irishman was following in the footsteps of his colleagues Tony McCoy, Richard Johnston and Ruby Walsh in setting the mark and was able to enjoy the moment as his mount came in a distance clear of the only other finisher in the Kempton.co.uk Graduation Chase.

Geraghty had been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons at Wetherby on Saturday when he was banned for 12 days after taking the wrong course on My Petra in the Listed hurdle.

"It's great to get it," he said.

"I never set many goals when I was younger but I always wanted to ride 1,000 winners and win some big races along the way.

"He jumped brilliant all the way and it rode a good race. You couldn't fault what he did there, he's going the right way."

Duc De Regniere was getting the ball rolling for the recently-returned trainer Nicky Henderson, who habitually thrives in November.

Henderson allowed Geraghty to really rebuild his momentum as a jockey when he took over on most of the retired Mick Fitzgerald's mounts last season.

He was the even-money favourite for this two-and-a-half-mile event although his cause was helped immeasurably when Pasco slid to the deck at the third-last. With Sir Harry Ormesher also failing to complete, the weary Battlecry could take second place at his leisure.

Henderson said: "This was the perfect race for the horse as he had to go and get some belief into himself.

"He only had one win over fences two years ago. Then last season he did well in the good hurdles but his handicap mark is now so high he had to have another try over fences.

"He jumped beautifully and it's great for Barry. Today was the day to do it - if it had been on a Saturday, he would not have got a mention.

"I don't know where the horse can go now. Ideally he wants three miles - two and a half is as short as you'd go."