Graham Buddry retells the amazing story of the 1981 National

Despite their size and strength horses are incredibly fragile. Thin, spindly legs which often go wrong have to carry them at racing pace over fences. An internal system where colic is a serious problem and a universally bad reaction to anaesthetic should they need anything intrusive explains why many horses are retired early or sidelined for long periods, if they return at all.
Of those which overcame such adversity many times, perhaps the most accomplished was Aldaniti.
Born at the Harrogate stud of Tommy Barron on 25 June 1...