Cefn Fforest’s Dream Alliance wins Welsh Grand National

A horse born on a disused allotment next to Blackwood rugby club and owned by a group of 23 friends from Cefn Fforest has romped home to win the 60th Welsh Grand National.

Dream Alliance, a 20-1 outsider, is owned by 23-strong syndicate who each pay £10 a week for the horse’s upkeep.

Yesterday at Chepstow the eight-year-old horse, ridden by Tom O’Brien, won by three-quarters of a length, ahead of Silver By Nature and favourite Le Beau Bai who came third.

It was a dream return for Dream Alliance, owned by members of the village’s Top Club working men’s club, after severing a tendon in his front leg in the 2008 Grand National at Aintree.

It was almost the end for the horse but villagers dug deep and forked out £20,000 to save the horse, nicknamed Sicknote.

Howard Davies, the syndicate manager, said: “I am overwhelmed. This horse has been a rollercoaster ride.”

Jan Vokes, who bred the horse after paying £350 for a mare, said: “It’s not surprising he keeps running well because we keep telling him he’ll be back up the allotments if he doesn’t do the business.”