HEREFORDSHIRE’S Champion Jockey was out of luck again in the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday when his mount Rock the Kasbah fell at the 19th fence while pre-race favourite Tiger Roll went on to join the great Red Rum by winning back-to-back Nationals.

Rock the Kasbah had been supported in the betting market down from an initial 25/1 ante post to a 16/1 at race time.

The horse was aiming to give his rider a first Grand National win at the 21st attempt and after a slow start, following a mistake, the nine-year-old began to move up the forth horse field until a fall at the 19th fence ended his race.

Johnson said of his mount: "It frightened him early on but then he started to get into a rhythm, but then he got brought down. I wouldn't say I was going to win, but he was starting to get into the race. It was much too early on into the race to tell how we were really going to end.”

Johnson was full of praise for the Irish winner Tiger Roll, partnered by Davy Russell.

He added: “It is amazing that Tiger Roll has done it again - he is an amazing horse. I will try again next year."

Johnson had also been out of luck on his other main chances at the three-day Aintree festival with Brewinupastorm running a fine race in defeat when second to outsider Reserve Tank in the two and a half mile Betway Mersey Novices hurdle and Lalor a disappointing sixth of seven runners behind Oruna in the Doom Bar Maghull Novices Chase over two miles.