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Game of Thrones and Stella actor Owen Teale has been named Best Actor in this year’s Bafta Cymru awards for his role in the film Dream Horse.

Based on the true story of a racehorse raised on a Cefn Fforest allotment and who went on to win the 2009 Welsh Grand National, the film also won the won the Best Sound category.

The film, based on the real life story of racehorse Dream Alliance, stars Australian actress Toni Collette as Jan Vokes – a barmaid at a workingmen’s club who brings together a group of people to breed the champion horse – and Homeland actor Damian Lewis as accountant Howard Davies.

After Jan met Howard in the Top Club in Cefn Fforest, the dream of forming a syndicate to raise the horse began.

Owen Teale won best actor for his portrayal of Jan’s husband Brian.

Dream Horse had been nominated in the Best Actor; Feature Television/Film; Make Up and Hair; Photography and Lighting: Fiction; and Sound categories.

Dream Horse was released last year after being delayed by more than a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dream Alliance was born in 2001, and defied all odds to win the Welsh Grand National eight years later.

Jan spoke to Caerphilly Observer at the time of the film’s release last year describing the moment the horse won as a “surreal moment”.

She said: “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I never used to like to watch him run – I was more afraid he’d come last.

“When he ran his first race, I was more afraid that he would come last or wouldn’t even start the race. So I would never watch him race. “

Dream Alliance is now enjoying his retirement in Somerset.