November 7, 2024

Welsh Hope Iwilldoit Could Finally Get Grand National Run in 2024

Lisa Baker, Editor, Welsh Business News & News from Wales April 24, 2023

As the stories of National Hunt racehorses go, the tale of Iwilldoit features more twists and turns than your average Hollywood thriller. There’s a rags-to-riches storyline, underpinned by a near-fatal helicopter crash and a noble, but ultimately futile, race against time.

Unfortunately, the latter narrative saw the Welsh-owned and trained horse miss the qualification deadline for the 2023 Grand National after he had been installed as one of the early favourites with the bookmakers. However, a lack of competitive action – National horses must have run six races over fences by the February cut-off – meant that Iwilldoit agonisingly missed out on a place in the Aintree spectacle by just one outing.

The Diamond Racing syndicate, the Gwent-based group that owns the ten-year-old, had a chance to qualify Iwilldoit by running him in the Denman Chase, but the noted mudlark would not have been comfortable on the fast ground. Not only this, but Diamond Racing director Chris Morgan confirmed that they weren’t willing to take a chance in order to protect the welfare of his prized asset.

Iwilldoit has been well looked after by trainer Sam Thomas, who gave the horse a year off from competitive action in 2022 after he suffered a series of injury setbacks. On his return in January, the stayer outlasted the field to land the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow – a victory that left Thomas, who nearly died in a helicopter crash in November, fighting back tears in celebration.

If the staying specialist can stay clear of injuries, the 2023/24 season will probably be his last as a National Hunt campaigner – a tilt at the Grand National, for which he has undoubted pedigree, would be a fitting swansong.

Return on Investment

The story of Iwilldoit is made all the more interesting by the fact that he’s owned by a syndicate of everyday folk who simply have a love of racing. Each member of the syndicate will own a share in a horse (or group of horses), with the fees paid going towards the upkeep and ongoing training of the animal.

But the good news is that successful syndicate owners get to enjoy a share of any prize money earned – the ownership partners behind 2023 Grand National champion Corach Rambler pocketed a six-figure sum.

Anyone can acquire a share in a syndicate, or for those that love the sport and have always facies the idea of being an owner, a racehorse shares gift is another way of getting a friend or family member involved. For context, Iwilldoit has won more than £180,000 in prize money for his syndicate, while Corach Rambler’s success at Aintree and Cheltenham has helped his backers to a handsome £686,000 payout.

And one of the most famous horse racing syndicates originated in Wales. The Alliance Partnership made up of taxi drivers, teachers and barmaids near Blackwood, paid £10 a week for Dream Alliance, a staying horse raised on an allotment that would go on to win the Welsh National. That underdog story was turned into a film in 2020. Will Iwilldoit have a Hollywood ending of his own?

 

Image credit: www.staceymacnaught.co.uk.

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