# 1981 Grand National

   It’s Aldaniti in the lead but being pressed now by Spartan Missile. It’s Aldaniti from Spartan Missile and here comes John Thorne, 54 year old John Thorne putting in a storming finish. It’s Aldaniti from Spartan Missile. Aldaniti is gonna win it, at the line, Aldaniti wins the National!
BBC commentator Peter O'Sullevan describes the climax of the race
The 1981 Grand National (officially known as The Sun Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 135th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 4 April 1981.
It is remembered for the winning horse Aldaniti, who had recovered from chronic leg problems, and his jockey Bob Champion, who had recovered from cancer. Aldaniti's injuries dated back to 1976, while Champion had been diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1979. However, Aldaniti was nursed back to optimum form ahead of the race, and Champion overcame lengthy hospitalisation and chemotherapy to win the National by a distance of four lengths. In second place was the 8/1 favourite, Spartan Missile, ridden by 54-year-old amateur jockey and grandfather John Thorne. The story of Bob Champion and Aldaniti was made into a film Champions, with John Hurt portraying Champion. The film is based on Champion's book Champion's Story, which he co-wrote with close friend and racing journalist and broadcaster Jonathan Powell.

## Finishing order

| Position | Horse | Jockey | Age | Handicap (st-lb) | SP | Distance |
| 01 | Aldaniti | Bob Champion | 11 | 10-13 | 10/1 | 4 lengths |
| 02 | Spartan Missile | John Thorne | 9 | 11-5 | 8/1 F | |
| 03 | Royal Mail | Philip Blacker | 11 | 11-7 | 16/1 | |
| 04 | Three To One | Geordie Dun | 10 | 10-3 | 33/1 | |
| 05 | Senator Maclacury | John Burke | 7 | 10-12 | 20/1 | |
| 06 | Royal Exile | Ben De Haan | 12 | 10-0 | 16/1 | |
| 07 | Rubstic | Maurice Barnes | 12 | 10-7 | 11/1 | |
| 08 | Coolishall | Bill Smith | 12 | 10-3 | 25/1 | |
| 09 | Rathlek | Paul Barton | 11 | 10-1 | 50/1 | |
| 10 | So | John Francome | 12 | 10-8 | 40/1 | |
| 11 | Sebastian V | Ridley Lamb | 13 | 10-2 | 33/1 | |
| 12 | Cheers | Peter Scudamore | 9 | 10-0 | 20/1 | Last to finish |

## Non-finishers

| Fence | Horse | Jockey | Age | Weight (st-lb) | SP | Fate |
| 01 | Another Captain | Colin Hawkins | 9 | 10-0 | 40/1 | Fell |
| 01 | Barney Maclyvie | Martin Lynch | 10 | 10-8 | 33/1 | Unseated rider |
| 04 | Bryan Boru | John Carden | 10 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Refused |
| 04 | Delmoss | Frank Berry | 11 | 10-1 | 50/1 | Fell |
| 04 | Kilkilwell | Niall Madden | 9 | 10-6 | 33/1 | Refused |
| 06 (Becher's Brook) | Chumson | Aiden O'Connell | 10 | 11-7 | 50/1 | Fell |
| 08 (Canal Turn) | Another Prospect | Jim Wilson | 9 | 10-8 | 40/1 | Fell |
| 09 (Valentine's) | Drumroan | Marcus Graffe | 13 | 10-6 | 50/1 | Unseated rider |
| 09 (Valentine's) | No Gypsy | John Suthern | 12 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Fell |
| 10 | Carrow Boy | Gerry Newman | 9 | 11-6 | 33/1 | Fell |
| 10 | Kininvie | Philip Hobbs | 12 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Unseated rider |
| 11 (open ditch) | Tenecoon | Charlie Mann | 12 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Unseated rider |
| 13 | Lord Gulliver | Colin Brown | 8 | 10-0 | 50/1 | Fell |
| 15 (The Chair) | Dromore | Peter Duggan | 13 | 10-8 | 100/1 | Refused |
| 17 | Kylogue Lady | Richard Quinn | 9 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Fell |
| 19 (open ditch) | Deiopea | Linda Sheedy | 10 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Refused |
| 19 (open ditch) | Son and Heir | Sam Morshead | 11 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Refused |
| 19 (open ditch) | The Vintner | Chris Grant | 10 | 10-8 | 20/1 | Refused |
| 20 | Royal Stuart | Hywel Davies | 10 | 10-2 | 16/1 | Unseated rider |
| 22 (Becher's Brook) | Pacify | Steve Jobar | 11 | 10-0 | 50/1 | Fell |
| 22 (Becher's Brook) | Zongalero | Steve Smith-Eccles | 11 | 10-11 | 14/1 | Fell |
| 24 (Canal Turn) | Three Of Diamonds | Paul Leach | 9 | 10-4 | 100/1 | Fell |
| 26 | Might Be | Anthony Webber | 10 | 10-0 | 50/1 | Fell |
| 27 (open ditch) | Choral Festival | Marcus Low | 10 | 10-2 | 66/1 | Unseated rider |
| 27 (open ditch) | Martinstown | Malcolm Batters | 9 | 10-7 | 33/1 | Unseated rider |
| 27 (open ditch) | My Friendly Cousin | Alan Brown | 11 | 10-2 | 100/1 | Pulled up |
| 28 | Casamayor | Paul Webber | 11 | 10-6 | 100/1 | Refused |

## Media coverage

David Coleman presented Grand National Grandstand on the BBC in what turned out being one of the most famous National's of all-time.

## Aftermath

The story of Champion and Aldaniti become known as Racing's greatest fairytale, and has become a lasting inspiration to people battling cancer ever since. Two years after the victory, the Bob Champion Cancer Trust was created and the story inspired a movie of Bob's own personal battle to get fit to ride in the National the following year, called Champions starring John Hurt.