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Dream Alliance, the horse that won the 2009 Welsh Grand National and whose story inspired a Hollywood film has died at the age of 22.

Born and raised on an allotment in Cefn Fforest, the horse was owned by a group of friends in a £10-a-week syndicate led by barmaid Janet Vokes.

The story of Dream Alliance was made into a 2015 documentary called Dark Horse, which in turn led to the production of the 2020 film Dream Horse.

After retiring from racing in 2012, the syndicate gave Dream Alliance to Claire Sandercock, who had looked after him during his career at trainer Philip Hobbs’ stable. Since then he has been looked-after in Somerset.

Announcing Dream Alliance’s death on Facebook, Ms Sandercock said: “Many will know and remember Dreamer from his racing days and I know I will never forget the thrill of riding him on the gallops everyday. I was so so proud of him when he won the Welsh National and I remember telling him afterwards that I didn’t care if he ever won another race again as long as he came home safe and sound.

“After he retired from racing the syndicate gifted Dreamer to me and I have owned him for nearly 11 years. Alongside my mum Debbie we have felt privileged to care, ride and love this very special horse.”

She added: “Dreamer has always been a gentle and kind horse but since his retirement from racing his personality has changed so much. He gained a cheeky sense of humour. He could always tell what you were thinking and if you wanted a quiet plod round the lanes then that is what he gave you, but if you wanted a gallop then he would step it up and be more than up for it.

“We will always remember Dreamer not for his achievements on the racecourse but for the gentle and kind horse who looked after and learnt how to school/jump outside of racing together with my mum who had never schooled a horse before; for the horse that taught my sister-in-law how to ride; for the horse that made a nine-year-old girl’s dream come true riding a race horse in a racing saddle; but most of all I will remember Dreamer for being my best friend and always coming over to listen to all my worries. He was always there for me.”

Dream Alliance – the horse that beat the odds

In 1998 Janet Vokes was working in a supermarket. She had previously bred whippets and birds but, together with her husband Brian, decided to breed a racehorse.

While working as a barmaid at the Top Club in Cefn Fforest she met accountant Howard Davies and persuaded others to join the syndicate, paying in £10 a week.

A mare named Rewbell was bought for £300 and was paired with a stallion in Oxfordshire with a racing pedigree, Bien Bien. The result was Dream Alliance, born at the allotment in 2001 before being sent to trainer Philip Hobbs.

The horse made racing debut at Newbury in November 2004, and went on to his first win in January 2006 over the hurdles at Chepstow, adding the Perth Gold Cup in April 2007.

In 2008 Dream Alliance severed a leg tendon in Aintree, but instead of doing what most owners would do, the syndicate saved the horse’s life and paid £20,000 for pioneering stem-cell treatment.

Their faith was rewarded when jockey Tom O’Brien rode Dream Alliance to win the Welsh Grand National in 2009 at odds of 20-1.

Despite the fairytale story, each member of the 23-strong syndicate made just £1,430 on Dream’s career winnings of £138,646, after taking vets bills and training fees into account.

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer in June 2021, when the film Dream Horse was released, Jan said her life had not really changed.

She said: “I always used to think, I know this might sound daft, but you’re born, you live your life and you die and nobody even knows you’re here other than your children. Nobody knows you’ve lived.

“I wanted to do something that would go down in history – so I achieved that dream didn’t I?”