Royal Athlete (1983–2003) was a British-bred racehorse, whose most famous victory was the 1995 Grand National at Aintree when ridden by 24-year-old Irishman, Jason Titley at the generous odds of 40/1.
The horse had been among the favourites for the National two years earlier but fell in a race, which was later declared void due to an unrecalled false start. In 1995 his trainer Jenny Pitman tried to talk the owners, Gary and Libby Johnson out of running him at Aintree, confessing to the BBC's Des Lynam in a post race interview that she thought they were "Mad bringing him here 'cause he could win the Scottish National (scheduled to be run two weeks later) doing triple toeloops." As it was, Royal Athlete was not sent to Ayr for that race and was retired shortly after his victory.
Royal Athlete returned to Aintree for the next seven years to take part in the parade of champions before passing away in May 2003 at the age of 20.[1]