Sussex takes centre stage on Saturday for the 30th anniversary of one of the Grand National’s great stories.

Bob Champion, who was stable jockey to Findon trainer Josh Gifford, rode the yard’s former crock Aldaniti to victory in the 1981 race after surviving cancer.

Champion had been told he would be dead within eight months unless he received treatment that had a 35-40 per cent success rate.

Aldaniti had once been so badly injured that a vet recommended he was put down.

The story inspired the book, Champion’s Story, and the film, Champions, when John Hurt played the part of Champion.

Now 62, the ex-jockey will be at Aintree to commemorate a remarkable tale despite a recent heart attack.

He will also attempt to build on the staggering £13m he has helped raise for charity to fight cancer through a trust in his name.

Champion told The Argus: “I’ll be going to Aintree. The heart attack (his second in ten years and understood to be linked to his cancer treatment) gave me a bit of a start but I’m not too bad now.

“It doesn’t seem 30 years ago since I won on Aldaniti.I didn’t think I’d be living 30 years on!

“Aintree is putting on a legends race to help commemorate the race. Was I tempted to get out there myself? The doctors wouldn’t let me!

“Hopefully we can also raise some money for the cancer charity.

“I’ve been very busy fund-raising, £13m is a lot of money. Aldaniti was a tremendous help to the charity by being there for events while he was alive (he died in 1997 aged 27) – as well as making my name that day in 1981.

“The memories will come flooding back on Saturday.

“But I go there every year. I always have a great time. The Liverpool people are great.

“Josh won’t be going but we keep in touch. I went to visit him in Findon last week.

“He always supported me when I rode for him. When I was having my treatment all those years ago I didn’t know whether he thought I would live but he gave me confidence.

“I fancy Donald McCain’s horse, Ballabriggs, to win this year’s National. He’s looked good a couple of times. Another I fancy is Dermot Weld’s Majestic Concorde.”

Gifford, who attended a 30th anniversary commemoration in Birmingham this week, said: “I visited Bob in hospital and said I was keeping his job open and that he had Aldaniti to ride in the National.”

It would have been fitting if Josh’s son Nick, who took over Downs Stables from his father, could have had an entry for the National on the 30th anniversary.

Gifford junior admitted it would have been a dream and said: “If I had had anything good enough to run I would have done. You need very good horses to get into the race. So hopefully next year a few horses will come through and we can have a couple of entries.”