Aldaniti racing in 1982 and spent the remainder of his life at his owner's farm in Sussex. He died of old age in March 1997. A British Rail Class 86 electric locomotive is named after him. Aldaniti Aldaniti (1970 - 28 March 1997) was a racehorse who won the Grand National on 4 April 1981. Jockey Bob Champion recovered from cancer while Aldaniti recovered after suffering a career threatening injury. The horse was trained by Josh Gifford. He starred as himself in the 1983 film "Champions" alongside John Hurt and was voted 62nd in the 100 greatest sporting moments in a
Grand National was passed fit to ride in the Grand National. He rode Aldaniti, a horse deprived in its youth and which had only recently recovered from chronic leg problems. Despite a poor start, the pair went on to win four-and-a-half lengths ahead of the much-fancied Spartan Missile, ridden by amateur jockey and 54-year-old grandfather John Thorne. Champion and Aldaniti were instantly propelled to celebrity status, and within two years, their story had been re-created in the film "Champions", starring John Hurt. From 1984 to 1991, Seagram sponsored the Grand National. The Canadian distiller provided a solid foundation on which the race's