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.

Background

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 his racing career he was owned by Nick Embiricos and trained at Findon, West Sussex by Josh Gifford.^[2]

Racing career

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 the gelding was assigned a weight of 153 pounds and started the 10/1 second favourite behind Spartan Missile a dual winner of the Fox Hunters' Chase. Aldaniti took the lead at the eleventh fence and maintained his advantage for the rest of the race, fighting off a challenge from Spartan Missile on the run-in to win by four lengths.^[3] On the following day more than 3,000 people turned out to welcome the horse back to his stable at Findon.^[4]

Aldaniti also ran in the 1982 Grand National with Bob Champion, but fell at the first fence.

Retirement

Aldaniti was retired from 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.^[5]

A British Rail Class 86 electric locomotive is named after him.

Pedigree

References