A NEW film dramatising the true story of a Welsh barmaid and group of friends who trained a racehorse will be released in April, it has been announced.

The story of a 23-member Blackwood racehorse syndicate and their horse, Dream Alliance, captured the imagination of Hollywood and been made into a film titled Dream Horse, starring Oscar-nominated actress Toni Collette as bartender Jane Vokes - who came up with the idea of breeding the horse.

Having successfully bred and raced pigeons and greyhounds, Mrs Vokes, together with her husband Brian, bought the mare Rewball for £350 and bred Dream Alliance. The horse spent the first 11 months of his life on their allotment and went on to win the 2009 Welsh National by three-quarters of a length, ridden by Tom O’Brien.

South Wales Argus:

The newly released poster for the upcoming film Dream Horse

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Dream Horse premiered at the Sundance Festival last month, and will be released worldwide on Friday, April 17.

South Wales Argus:

Dream Alliance with owner Jan Vokes and her husband Brian