1981 Grand national

[@sarinastokes2814]

OK crying all the way through that, Aldaniti, ears pricked, beautiful riding and jumping, poetry!

[@goodlife6145]

So much of this race has stayed with me. Not only Aldaniti and Bob Champion's heroic victory, but names like Spartan Missile and Zongolero have stuck in my mind! I was glued to Grandstand back then.

[@davidmastin416]

I have not seen this for some time, and I swear it would bring a tear to a glass eye.

[@darrendiggins7021]

Amazing stuff

[@garethmurtagh]

I don’t think there’s anything in sport that makes your spine tingle than Peter O’Sullevan doing the closing stages of the National!

[@Minime163]

Peter o'Sullivan and michéal o'hare two legendary commentators the likes of who we'll never see again

[@glynnevans1851]

@@Minime163 Quite agree with you sir. Two momentous commentators and light years ahead of today's no hopers. Peter Bromley was also a legend on Radio 2' too. It was amazing how Michael spotted Fornavion clearing the 23rd on his own also luved his Irish grand national coverage. Peters name goes without saying and the 73 National stands out for me .late 60s n 70s n early 80s Fabulous years. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝

[@si002]

​@@Minime163Yes I agree with you about Michael O'Hehir

[@Davey14]

@@glynnevans1851 My dad and my uncle backed Fornavion because my uncle said it had never fell.It was a fluke win though.They both won alot of money on it and they were the talk of the town.

[@chriscolton6329]

​@@si002One of the finest bits of sports commentary, ever. Incredible how he kept on top of calling the race, amidst all the pandemonium, at the 23rd. I always thought Julian Wilson was an awful commentator, bless him...

[@carldee2991]

I was there age 16, amazing day, Go on Aldaniti, great story.

[@ingridhickmott9237]

Remember insisting to my dad aldaniti was going to win and he should follow my suit and back him. Of course he didn't listen to his twelve year old. Great memorable day in racing history. Always makes me well up when watching these two greats.

[@darrendiggins7021]

How can people dislike this

[@thelovwoman]

Puts a tear in my eye when I watch this what a horse Aldiniti was I’m sure he telling his jockey we are not going to be beaten today what ever they throw at us cos we have both been close to the pearly gates not to achieve this so you stay on and I will get us their !!!!!!

[@sandiehutchinson9575]

Still cry watching this it's the only national for me

[@galtongabriel1172]

Still remember watching this. Bob Champion wasn’t going to be denied on this day after all he had gone through. ❤

[@stephenbrett4216]

great day for bob champion aldaniti good times in racing

[@si002]

R.I.P. John Hanmer. A fantastic tribute was paid to him by Richard Hoiles on itv racing.

[@bonnie448]

I am very happy for the two Champions. I must bring attention to those who say racing is cruel and the horses are mistreated. A mistreated horse would not keep running like so many of these horses do!

[@chatham43]

....both horse and jockey a true inspiration......and thanks for sharing....great quality video.....

[@shaunspadah5790]

did you see the movie they made called champions they used clips from the 1983 national, great win for champion, no oscars for the movie lol

[@chatham43]

@@shaunspadah5790 ....oops.....

[@sarinastokes2814]

OMG the you see Bobs riding, just poetry! Bobs having to keep a hold of Aldanti and when he hits the lead he produces the beautiful leap!

[@galtongabriel1172]

The great brave Bob Champion

[@aldershot5100]

I cry every time I watch the film

[@JakeSwan94]

One of the greatest achievements in sporting history. Simply amazing!

[@ianjones177]

How brave were those cameramen travelling sideways on a car roof.Health and safety would throw the book at them these days.Love watching these old nationals.

[@Minime163]

The fact that I remember the race well and red rum before that is enough to bring a tear to my eye

[@Glenn1888]

The day I got my first and only motorbike, my Uncle Mal got it for me as I wouldnt miss The Grand National

[@lisachrimes3912]

Amazing ledgend and genius bob

Backed 1st 3 but i backed Sparton Missile from 33/1 all the way down for months think he went off fav or near fav .I still think as many do if there was a pro up he would have won

[@shaunspadah5790]

this race is typical what made the race so colourful in those days, class horses and no hopers sportin solicitor, swiss amateur riding drumroan a 54 year old riding the favourite, also martin pipes first runner and scudermores first ride,

[@imanihekima1659]

I think only the FA Cup Final could rival the buzz generated by the National at this point. (The Ashes series of that year was also pretty dramatic!) It really was the high point of the season. With each winner there always seemed to be a fascinating back story, especially so in 1981.

[@marksheridan4421]

One of the great stories of the Grand National and Liverpool

[@moyajanko6642]

Rembered as if it was last week. Sitting in Auntie Aileen's house in Putney, she picked Aldaniti as the winner. I presented self as superior judge of racing, my choice was Zongalero. Hey ho.

[@gorgeous627]

Named my dog after spartan missle 👍

[@teenoso4069]

The days when getting round was an achievement

[@mickystormont8913]

Beutiful

[@moyajanko6642]

Peter O'Sullevan - "Get both hankies ready."

[@harrypalmer8808]

"Get those hankies ready".

[@JSB-IZ-ME]

Go Aldiniti Go 😭

[@drizzle952]

A proper National....

[@lycangypsypriest3190]

Great race!! Great battle!!

[@michaelmoran9399]

Glad Aldaniti won but if a professional jockey would have rode Spartan Missile I think he would of won the race

[@davidcooke8059]

Yeah, he was my pick that day, I’m sure if he’d had a pro aboard he’d have won

[@wellforth]

The film Champions in the race when Aldaniti and Spartan Missile when they jump the last fance they are neck and neck and it's only in the last few strides Aldaniti pulls away and wins.. But in the real race Aldaniti won a lot more easy by a few lengths

[@benhaney9629]

In the actual race Spartan Missile is third at the last jump. Quite a few lengths back...

[@garethmurtagh]

Yeah obviously dramatised for the film but when you see the whole race Bob and Aldaniti just bossed the race from the Chair on, superb jockeying!

[@shaunspadah5790]

my freindly cousins jockey waving at the crowd 2nd bechers , wonder if there was some banter goin on

[@racingwithhannah]

Hi Katie, please can I use a small 10 seconds of this footage in my interview with Bob champion? Kind regards Hannah

[@benhaney9629]

Nice to ask I suppose but she doesn’t own the rights to this video. And anyway, fair use, as long as you use the footage in the context of a larger point you building, it’s allowed.

[@patrickcarney8808]

hi kate do you have any extended footage of any nationals.thanks

[@shaunspadah5790]

the sporting solicitor got as far as fence 4 on bryan boru, 3 fences further than he usually got

[@shaunspadah5790]

As they approach the elbow Spartan missile is gonna nip past royal mail on the inside the exhausted royal mail sways to the left leaving Spartan missile to go around him losing vital lengths

[@shaunspadah5790]

whats happening at 8 30 is that a jockey under the horse

[@tonycuellarsolis5345]

1981.

[@benhaney9629]

Jesus. This is gdamn madness. I show jumped 4+ foot fences and they jump much higher than that at the top levels but this... First of all, there are like 30 or more horses, it’s a mob scene. The fences are a good height and are like gdamn bramble bushes or god knows what. Horses falling and tripping all over the place. Riderless horses front running. The course is SO long with over 20 fences. Galloping the whole time. The horses must be dead tired by the end. I’ve of course heard of steeple chasing but I had no idea. This is madness. They must average a dead horse a race. (A horse breaks a leg and that’s usually that, they have to be put down) And a dead rider every few races. You’ll fall and get your heard squished by a horse landing on you hoof first . Insanity.

[@andycross9840]

The Grand National fences are built with usual base materials for steeplechasing and then covered with 'spruce' (to give them that green color). Regarding the GN fatality rate, since the race started back in the mid 1800's it has averaged 1 fatality every 2 years. Not good, admittedly, but hardly what I would call so bad that is has warranted the drastic changes to the course that have occurred and turned the National into a pale shadow of what it used to be.

[@gazowen7310]

Pacify going well when falling

[@waqarkhan25]

after this fairy tail there no more fairy in The Grand National

[@24nov67]

4/4/81

[@paalnordland8005]

8.29-8.31......watch down to the right....a horse break into the racetrack true a white fence....?????

[@cameronw3159]

Yeah quite common. The loose horses get disoriented on the inside of the course and break back through the barriers onto the track (because horses are pack animals). There is a person underneath it and originally I thought it may have been a jockey but it looks like the loose horse took a spectator back onto the course with him!

[@paalnordland8005]

Thank you for the information! I have never been at Aintree. Whats the prices for tickets....for the best view? (My english is not so proper....sorry ...through a wite fence...not true,,,,,hehe...)