At the Elbow I felt a horse come to my quarters but didn’t look. You sense a horse is there. But I went and won two or three lengths. By the time the National came around, his odds had been trimmed from 66/1 to 10/1 second-favourite.

I sat on him once for the TV before he went to Liverpool and one morning in Liverpool, then the Grand Naitonal.” The Helen Rollason award is presented in honour of the former BBC Sport presenter who herself died from cancer in 1999.

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Aldaniti miraculously recovered from the injury that could’ve ended his career with trainer Josh Gifford who the 1984 movie Champions referred to as “the governor,” riding him out every day. A dream that lay dormant had been reignited. John did things in the script. In his own way, you know, and he never copied me or anything, but we are quite alike, I suppose. Because we both from the north. So, you know, we’ve got that same mentality.” Aldaniti with Bob Champion in the saddle jumping the last fence on the way to victory in the Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on April 4 1981

Image: Aldaniti, with Champion in the saddle, jumps the last fence to go on to win the Grand National Coming in four-and-a-half lengths ahead of the competition, Champion and Aldaniti beat the odds and made history. The Reaction In the event that Aldaniti has actual knowledge that the information or activity to which the user is directed from said links is illegal, constitutes an offence or may be damaging to the goods or rights of a third party liable for compensation, it shall act with the necessary diligence to delete or disable the corresponding link as soon as possible. Aldaniti was second favourite for the 1981 National and Champion believed on the morning of the race, his mount had a strong chance of winning. Weight, however, turned out to be a constant struggle throughout Bob’s career and he tried out everything from laxatives and pee pills to regular saunas and wasting.

He took six for 95 in Australia’s first innings, scoring 50 runs in England’s. However, Australia still scored 401 for 9 declared, and with England only scoring 227, the hosts were forced to follow on. When I pulled up my first thought was, 'I did this for all the nurses and doctors in the Royal Marsden (hospital), and the patients, to give them hope'," he said. These early experiences instilled in him the love of horses and riding that would eventually carry him to a Grand National triumph.

Josh also liked the fact that Bob rarely used the whip. “Coming from a good hunting family, Bob had a natural seat and horses did jump for him,” agrees Althea. “Josh liked the fact that he could help them and see a good stride.” In 1979, Champion was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Doctors gave Champion a 30% chance of surviving and three to four months to live. His skill in the saddle won him plenty of races, as well as respect. He also proved skilful with the ladies too. His tempestuous love affairs were well-known and sometimes amusing to those around him.

He took me into a fence, it wasn't me taking him - he loved every second." 'I didn't have time to celebrate' Josh always said my job was there. I know he never really thought I'd live. But he kept giving me the confidence, which I needed. I started riding out when I came out of hospital, but I couldn't breathe. My lungs had been damaged and the weather was cold, which made it hurt more; so I went to the States, to South Carolina, where the weather was nice and warm. It made things easier. I spent eight months there." It was agonising the way it was going wrong,” remembers Brough Scott, who counselled his old friend that perhaps it was time to quit. “But thank God he didn’t listen to me. He said, ‘There’s this horse called Aldaniti… he’s going to win the National.’ Stubbornness is a good thing sometimes.” He returned to training and racing while still in treatment and set his sights on winning the 1980 Grand National.