THE youngest owner of a Grand National winner has thanked the horse that made rich.
Student Cameron Sword, 21, invested £3,400 in Corach Rambler.
PATom Kendall, trainer Lucinda Russell and Cameron Sword with winner Corach Rambler[/caption]
PACameron said: ‘The best three grand I’ve ever spent? Definitely!’[/caption]
Saturday’s victory at Aintree, Liverpool, made nearly £100,000 each for seven syndicate members.
Cam partied in the city then headed to stables in Perthshire and said: “It’s been a crazy 24 hours.”
Cameron said: “The best three grand I’ve ever spent? Definitely!”
On Saturday the 8/1 shot, ridden by jockey Derek Fox, beat 38 rivals to win the showpiece at Aintree, Liverpool.
And after partying all evening and four hours of sleep, Cameron dashed 250 miles north to Kinross in Perthshire to see Corach at trainer Lucinda Russell’s stables.
The eight-year-old bay gelding has now won £690,000 prize money for the seven-strong syndicate, including £561,000 on Saturday.
Cameron’s share will more than pay for the final year of his four-year course at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.
But he insisted: “Was I thinking about the money? No, I don’t even know how much it is. When I do get it, I’ll probably do something in horse racing with it.
“It’s been a crazy 24 hours. I can’t remember Corach coming up the home straight because all I remember is us shouting.
“It was a good night, we were aware we’d have to drive home at 5am so we went to the hotel in Liverpool for dinner, a few drinks and was in bed for 1am and I got a few hours’ sleep.
“I still can’t believe it. It really hit me when we drove into the yard and saw all the cars. Hundreds of people coming out to see Corach and welcome him home.
“I’m well aware it’s never going to be like this again. We’re just trying to soak it all up. Everyone in the syndicate is a normal guy and we’ve won the National.
“We’re friends for life now. How do you top it? You can’t.”
Cameron is the youngest-ever winning owner, beating Bryan Burrough, who was 23 when Corbiere won in 1983.
Cameron’s family are from Aberdeen and mum Jennifer, 52, is also an owner.
His father Graeme, 54, is a businessman.
Getty Images – GettyWinning jockey Derek Fox salutes the crowd at Aintree[/caption]
PAThe syndicate celebrate their win with Corach[/caption]
©Perthshire Picture AgencyCameron is the youngest-ever winning owner, beating Bryan Borrough, who was 23 when Corbiere won in 1983[/caption]
He first wanted to get involved in racing during lockdown.
So he contacted his nearest yard, which Lucinda runs with her partner, ex-champion jockey Peter Scudamore, and asked for advice.
As well as £3,400 for a share of Corach, each syndicate member pays £300 a month for training fees.
In just two years, the horse has won the National, and twice at the Cheltenham Festival.
Yesterday around 300 well-wishers turned up to see him at House Stables.
Others in the syndicate include Corach’s breeder Paul Hillis, telecoms boss William Wallace, Keith Garwood and Gary Scott.
Another, accountant Tom Kendall, was wearing the unwashed “lucky” pants he had on at Cheltenham.
Abba singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad recently lunched with Lucinda, Peter and the syndicate and messaged her congratulations.
Peter said: “That is the National. We live in this bubble of racing that doesn’t really step outside but that makes you realise, Frida from Abba — as big as it gets!”
On Saturday police made 118 arrests after Animal Rising protesters invaded the course and tried to secure themselves to fences.
At least 60 were still in custody yesterday.
Cameron added: “The police did the best they could, it’s a massive space to cover. We’re just thankful the race went ahead.”
He said he’d invite the protesters to visit Corach at Lucinda’s yard.
And the trainer herself said: “They will see we look after these horses to a great standard.
“We’re not in the business of injuring horses. We are in the business of making them win races and be the best they can.”
Three horses died at Aintree’s three-day festival and the British Horseracing Authority said it will investigate.
Hill Sixteen was put down after a fall at the National’s first fence but its trainer Sandy Thomson said of the activists: “They haven’t a bloody clue what they’re doing. They just cause more problems than they ever solve.”
Owner Jimmy Fyffe added: “Sadly losing a horse happened but I love the game and I’ve got no qualms with staying in it.
“I’ve been in all the stables where I’ve got horses and they’re looked after like kings.”