The 1981 Grand National, run on good going on April 4, 1981, produced a fairytale finish that was immortalised in the 1982 book, ‘Champion’s Story: A Great Human Triumph’, co-written by winning jockey Bob Champion, and the subject film adaptation, ‘Champions’, starring John Hurt as Champion. Champion was stable jockey to Josh Gifford at Findon, Sussex, but was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1979, leading to surgery, chemotherapy and hospitalisation. However, he recovered sufficiently to take the ride on Aldaniti, trained by Gifford, in the Grand National and the rest, as they say, is history.
Aldaniti, for his part, was a talented, but fragile, steeplechaser, who had previously finished third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and second in the Scottish Grand National, but had broken down more than once in a career plagued by injury. Nevertheless, as an 11-year-old, he and Champion reunited to win the Whitbread Trial Chase at Ascot in February 1981 and, consequently, he was sent off 10/1 second-favourite for the Grand National, behind only 8/1 favourite Spartan Missile.
Indeed, it would be the market leaders who went on to dominate the finish, although the race did not go entirely to plan for Champion and Aldaniti. Champion had been instructed to hold Aldaniti up until the final fence but, after a dream run around the Canal Turn, the pair were already among the leaders and, two fences later, Aldaniti leapt into the lead. Thereafter, he made most of the running and passed the post four lengths ahead of his nearest pursuer, Spartan Missile.
The latter, ridden by 54-year-old amateur John Thorne, finished well, but effectively go going too late and was never quite reaching Aldaniti. A similar comment applies to Royal Mail (not to be confused with the 1937 Grand National winner, of the same name), who finished third, a further two lengths away.