THE dream lives on for members of a Blackwood racehorse syndicate who believe their horse, Dream Alliance, can win the world’s greatest steeple chase on Saturday.

The Welsh National winner is preparing for the Grand National and will be cheered on by its 23-member syndicate, most of whom are from Cefn Fforest.

The story behind the horse’s beginnings has even won over Hollywood with an initial agreement now signed with award-winning film producer, Justin Golding, to turn the story into a film.

With the bookies giving Dream Alliance 33-1 yesterday, the syndicate believes its nine-year-old horse has a good chance.

Trained by one of Britain’s leading jump trainers, Philip Hobbs, and ridden by Tom O’Brien, Dream Alliance will carry 11 stone 3 lbs in the race.

Jan Vokes, who came up with the idea of breeding the horse, said: “Philip always said he’s a Grand National horse.

“On his day, he would be capable of it but it’s a big ask."

Fellow syndicate member and tax consultant, Howard Davies, said the horse was stronger than ever.

He said: “He’s got a top five chance. He’ll definitely relish the crowds, he loves the attention."

Syndicate member Derek Williams has already laid on a bet at 40-1 for Dream Alliance to win and called him the syndicate’s “superstar.”

“It’s been great because we never expected anything like this in our lives. It’s out of this world.”

The Blackwood horse has made an amazing come back since severing a tendon at Aintree in 2008 where stem cell treatment got him back on winning form.

The idea behind Dream Alliance started at The Top Club in Cefn Fforest where Mrs Vokes was working as bar manager.

Fed up of some of the members talking about horseracing, Mrs Vokes said she would breed one herself.

Having successfully bred and raced pigeons and greyhounds, Mrs Vokes, together with her husband Brian, bought the mare Rewball for £350.

Dream Alliance then spent the first 11 months of his life on the Vokes’ allotment.

The mix of members, which includes a plasterer, garage owner, taxi driver and baliff as well as six tax accountants, have each paid £10 a week to cover the horse’s training costs.

Many of the members met at Chepstow Racecourse yesterday (TUES) for the unveiling of a suite named after their horse where they re-watched the Welsh National.