Champion British jumps jockey Richard Johnson has celebrated his OBE with a winner at Newbury on I’m A Game Changer.
The three-time champion, who received his OBE in the New Year Honours list, said he felt privileged.
“It is a massive privilege to receive an honour like that and it is a privilege to be mentioned in the same breath as some of those that have been nominated,” Johnson said.
“I knew about a month ago, but you never expect anything like that to come through the post. It is very special to have that recognition from the Royal family.”
Johnson had to put his recognised skills to the test to get I’m A Game Changer home by a nose in Saturday’s handicap hurdle.
“I would have taken a dead-heat at the time,” he said.
“I knew it was very close, but my head was obviously down at the right time.”
