The 1981 Grand National provided a triumphant ending to a tale of a crippled horse and a cancer-beating jockey. Aldaniti had suffered two bouts of tendon trouble and a broken hock bone.



Bob Champion was thirty-one and one of the top jump jockeys in Britain when he discovered he had cancer in 1979. He was told he might only have a few months to live and went through months of chemotherapy. What kept him going was the dream of winning the Grand National - one of the most prestigious and demanding steeplechases in British racing



On the 4th April 1981 Champion and Aldaniti set out to win the Grand National. By the 11th fence the pair had taken the lead. Their joint dream came true, both had overcome all to win the Grand National and Aldaniti was the first winner since Sundew in 1957 to lead throughout the final circuit.In 1983 Bob Champion received the MBE and also formed the Bob Champion Cancer Trust which, to date, has raised over six and a half million pounds towards cancer research.Bob had his life story portrayed in the book 'Champion's Story' which was made into a feature film starring John Hurt.



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