Editing Grand National (section)

===Bob Champion's National (1981)===
{{Main|1981 Grand National}}
Two years before the [[1981 Grand National]], jockey [[Bob Champion]] had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and given only months to live by doctors. But by 1981 he had recovered and 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.<ref>[http://www.grand-national.me.uk/grandnationalvideos.php Grand National Videos ~ Watch The Greatest Nationals Online] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717163522/http://www.grand-national.me.uk/grandnationalvideos.php |date=17 July 2011 }}. Grand-national.me.uk. Retrieved on 11 March 2011.</ref> Despite a poor start, the pair went on to win {{frac|4|1|2}} lengths ahead of the much-fancied Spartan Missile, ridden by amateur jockey and 54-year-old grandfather John Thorne.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120804064340/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/the-ten-best-grand-national-moments-1650378.html?action=Gallery&ino=8 1981 A day when the National seems scripted in the stars. Bob Champion, given]. Independent.co.uk (9 April 2010). Retrieved on 11 March 2011.</ref> Champion and Aldaniti were instantly propelled to celebrity status, and within two years, their story had been re-created in the film ''[[Champions (1983 film)|Champions]]'', starring [[John Hurt]].<ref>[http://bet-grand-national.com/aldaniti.html Aldaniti Grand National Legends | Aintree Grand National] {{webarchive|url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110802141308/http://bet-grand-national.com/aldaniti.html |date=2 August 2011 }}. Bet-grand-national.com. Retrieved on 11 March 2011.</ref>