3 minutes 1981 - Aldaniti & Bob Champion Complete Remarkable Comeback
We’re now just 24 hours from day one of the Aintree Grand National Festival and as we continue to work through our list of the greatest moments in Grand National history we reach number three in our countdown.
3 - Aldaniti & Bob Champion Complete Remarkable Comeback
Year: 1981
Winner: Aldaniti
Odds: 10/1
The 1981 Grand National was a race won through sheer determination and spirit as the culmination of a miraculous return to the winners enclosure for both winning horse and jockey. In 1979 Aldaniti finished third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and second in the Scottish Grand National before sustaining a career-threatening injury at a meeting at Sandown in November. He was off the track for over a year before making a winning return to action in the Whitbread Trial Chase at Ascot in February 1981.
Whilst Aldaniti’s return to action after a 16-month lay-off was quite remarkable it was the comeback of jockey, Bob Champion that really captured the hearts of the racing world. Champion was a very talented National Hunt jockey and won the 1978 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup (now known as the Coral Gold Cup) on board Approaching for trainer, Josh Gifford. However, in the summer of 1979 it was confirmed that the popular young jockey had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and cancer of the lymph nodes at just 31 years of age.
After undergoing an orchiectomy and receiving various treatments including chemotherapy, Bob Champion would eventually return to the saddle in 1981 where he would ride Aldaniti to that Whitbread Trial Chase success at Ascot. Aldaniti was amongst the pre-race favourites for the 1981 Grand National and in the race itself he would move into the lead at the eleventh fence, remaining there for the rest of the race.
Bob Champion and Aldaniti returned to Aintree twelve months later but fell at the first fence in the 1982 Grand National. Their extraordinary story was retold in the film ‘Champions’ whilst the duo were named BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year in 1981. Bob Champion would later go on to set up the Bob Champion Cancer Trust - raising millions for cancer research.
Finishing Positions
| Position | Name | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Aldaniti | 10/1 |
| 2nd | Spartan Missile | 8/1 F |
| 03rd | Royal Mail | 16/1 |
| 4th | Three To One | 33/1 |
| 5th | Senator Maclacury | 20/1 |
| 6th | Royal Exile | 16/1 |
| 7th | Rubstic | 11/1 |
| 8th | Coolishall | 25/1 |
| 9th | Rathlek | 50/1 |
| 10th | So | 40/1 |
| 11th | Sebastian V | 33/1 |
| 12th | Cheers | 20/1 |
Non-Finishers
| Name | Starting Price |
|---|---|
| Another Captain | 40/1 |
| Barney Maclyvie | 33/1 |
| Bryan Boru | 100/1 |
| Delmoss | 50/1 |
| Kilkilwell | 33/1 |
| Chumson | 50/1 |
| Another Prospect | 40/1 |
| Drumroan | 50/1 |
| No Gypsy | 100/1 |
| Carrow Boy | 33/1 |
| Kininvie | 100/1 |
| Tenecoon | 100/1 |
| Lord Gulliver | 50/1 |
| Dromore | 100/1 |
| Kylogue Lady | 100/1 |
| Deiopea | 100/1 |
| Son and Heir | 100/1 |
| The Vintner | 20/1 |
| Royal Stuart | 16/1 |
| Pacify | 50/1 |
| Zongalero | 14/1 |
| Three Of Diamonds | 100/1 |
| Might Be | 50/1 |
| Choral Festival | 66/1 |
| Martinstown | 33/1 |
| My Friendly Cousin | 100/1 |
| Casamayor | 100/1 |
A Countdown Of The Greatest Grand National Moments
10. The Monday National (1997)
9. Golden Miller Creates History (1934)
8. Esha Ness wins the Grand National that never was (1993)
7. Ginger McCain wins a fourth Grand National (2004)
6. Tipperary Tim wins at 100/1 (1928)
5. McCoy Finally Rides A Grand National Winner (2010)
4. Devon Loch Falls On Home Straight (1956)
3. Aldaniti & Bob Champion Complete Remarkable Comeback (1981)
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