Aldaniti's owner passes away

Nick Embiricos, owner of 1981 Grand National winner Aldaniti, has died. He was 81.

Alongside Bob Champion, who partnered Aldaniti to his famous success at Aintree months after surviving testicular cancer, Embiricos helped establish the Bob Champion Cancer Trust in 1983 and served as chairman for more than 20 years.

Embiricos was remembered with fondness by Champion on Wednesday, not only as a passionate and loyal owner, but also for the desire and drive he put into establishing and building up his charity.

He said: "When I was stable jockey to Josh Gifford, Nick and his wife Valda always had some nice horses there and I was very fortunate to ride a lot of winners for them and then, of course, Aldaniti came along and won the National. It was always Nick’s dream to win the race.

"They were just the most lovely owners and lovely, easy people to ride for. The horses always, always came first with them and they were fantastic people to deal with. They were a lot of fun too.

"Nick was one of the people who really wanted the charity and really wanted it to succeed. He was instrumental in getting it going. He put his heart and soul into it."

A statement from the Bob Champion Cancer Trust on Twitter said: “It is with a heavy heart that we report the passing of Nick Embiricos.

“Owner of Aldaniti and the force behind the Trust, he was a hands-on chairman for over 20 years, whose determination and spirit allowed us to get to where we are today. Our thoughts are with his family.”

21 November 2018