 He rode Aldaniti, a horse deprived in its youth and which had only recently recovered from chronic leg problems.Despite a poor start, the pair went on to win lengths ahead of the much-fancied Spartan Missile, ridden by amateur jockey and 54-year-old grandfather John Thorne.Champion and Aldaniti were instantly propelled to celebrity status, and within two years, their story had been re-created in the film "Champions", starring John Hurt.