1981 Grand National 1981 Grand National The 1981 Grand National 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.
Katie Walsh (jockey) her riding career in 2003. Her first winner was Hannon at Gowran Park in 2003. During the 2010 Cheltenham Festival she rode her first two Cheltenham Festival winners. She won on Poker De Sivola on the first day of the Festival in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup. She won on Thousand Stars on the last day of the Festival in the County Handicap Hurdle. Walsh made her Grand National debut in 2012. She rode Seabass, who was trained by her father Ted Walsh. She finished third, which currently is the best finish achieved by a female jockey in the