Richard Johnson
It used to be that AP McCoy was the greatest jockey to have never won the Aintree Grand National but he put paid to that title in 2010 when he won on Don’t Push It after 15 attempts. These days the honour goes to Richard Johnson, a fantastic rider in his own right, but one who has yet to claim the glory at Aintree.
Aside from McCoy, only Richard Johnson has secured more National Hunt winners, over 2,200 of them, more than any rider in the history of horse racing. But, despite this he has finished runner-up 13 times to McCoy in the top Jump Jockey Championship stakes and his best finish in the Grand National was on Whats Up Boys in 2002.
Despite this, he is a formidable jockey who has won all four championship races at Cheltenham during his career, including the 2000 Gold Cup on Looks Like Trouble and the Champion Hurdle three years later with Rooster Booster.
As with most Jump Jockeys, Johnson has sustained several broken bones during his years as a jockey, including breaking his leg twice during the 2002 jumps season. This was extremely unlucky and lost time in the saddle cost him dearly in terms of his position on the championship table. However, he made a great comeback once fit enough to ride again, finishing second overall.
Though unsuccessful with Quinz in the 2011 Aintree Grand National, he did the job in Scotland where he romped home on Beshabar to take the 2011 Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3).
