Aldaniti 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 Channel 4 poll. Aldaniti was a chestnut gelding bred in the United Kingdom by Harrowgate Stud. His name was derived from the names of his breeder Tommy Barron's four grandchildren: Alastair, David, Nicola, Timothy. During
Aldaniti his racing career he was owned by Nick Embiricos and trained at Findon, West Sussex by Josh Gifford. Aldaniti emerged as a top class steeplechaser in the 1978/79 National Hunt season. He finished third in the 1979 Cheltenham Gold Cup and second in the Scottish Grand National. He sustained a serious leg injury at Sandown in November 1979 and was off the racecourse for over a year. He returned in 1981 with the Grand National as his target and established himself as a legitimate contender with a win in the Whitbread Trial Chase at Ascot Racecourse in February. At Aintree