Grand National favourite carries hopes of university student

Most owners can only dream of having a runner in the £1 million Randox Grand National, but university student Cameron Sword is about to realise that ambition with his very first horse.

The 21-year-old is in his third of four years of studying Business at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, but away from the textbooks he is also part of the ownership group ‘The Ramblers’.

Together the seven-strong group own the Lucinda Russell-trained Corach Rambler, who is the current 13-2 favourite for the Randox Grand National with official betting partner William Hill after sealing back-to-back victories in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last month.

Such a journey to the top of the sport is the stuff of dreams for Cameron, who revealed that he only started watching racing properly around the time of the pandemic. He explained: “I got into racing during Covid, when I would just watch any sport that was being shown on TV.

Imagine being just 21 years old and owning a share of the @RandoxHealth Grand National favourite ��#RandoxGrandNationalpic.twitter.com/rpjBldsjuQ

— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) April 8, 2023

“I remember watching the Grand National and was just fascinated by it. I remember then learning how to study the form and things like that as well as the breeding side of racing. For me it’s always been the Grand National, I know for some people the Gold Cup is their great love, but I just love Aintree.

“I’m based in Edinburgh, which is around 20 miles from Lucinda’s yard, so I’d go down there to learn more about the sport and it went from there.

“Lucinda and Scu (Peter Scudamore, partner) along with their bloodstock agent Paul (McIvor) bought Corach for £17,000 and Lucinda set the syndicate up on the back of that.

“There’s four of us in Scotland, one in Ireland, one in London and one in Australia. The age range goes from me to boys in their late fifties and early sixties, so it’s a nice mix.

“None of us knew each other before Corach but as we started to go to races we started to become friends. We all know each other well now and we’ve shared some really special moments together, which I think build that bond more.”

Corach Rambler had his first start under Rules for Russell in January 2021 and it didn’t take him long to make an impression, winning twice over hurdles before switching to the larger obstacles that autumn.

The nine-year-old has gone from strength to strength from there and Sword admitted that he was still coming to terms with just how lucky he has been.

He explained: “It’s a complete underdog story and it always has been. Winning the Ultima the first time at Cheltenham was amazing itself, but to go back there and do it again and now be favourite for the Grand National is just a dream for all of us.

“It’s my first horse, but some of these guys have had a few horses in the past and have never experienced anything like this before – so it just opens my eyes to how lucky I’ve been.

“My family have previously had a Royal Ascot runner on the Flat years ago and after that haven’t had anything. They weren’t really involved but once my involvement with Corach started and my racing obsession has grown they’ve got back into it.

“They went to the Punchestown sales last year and picked up a really expensive horse and I think my mum is quite jealous that she’s spent all this money and Corach who cost 17 grand is the Grand National favourite!”

Lucinda Russell was victorious in the Grand National with One For Arthur in 2017 and Sword feels that Corach Rambler certainly has a favourite’s chance of providing her with a second success in seven years in the race.

He continued: “I’m quite a pessimistic owner in that I think 6-1 is a little bit short in the Grand National value wise!

“I was sitting down with Scu though and we were looking at all the angles of the race and this horse just ticks every single box. He’s 10lbs well-in at the weights, he’s got the stamina and he’s a good jumper touch wood – so he should be there or thereabouts.

“The horse has given us absolutely everything. He’s won over £200,000 in prize money and he owes us nothing, but it’s having that dream of winning the Grand National which is so special.

“I think it’s only people in the yard who give Derek (Fox, jockey) the credit he deserves. He’s one of the best and most consistent riders around. He’s a Grand National-winning rider and we couldn’t ask for anyone better to ride our horse..”

Sword admits that he has well and truly caught the racing bug now and he added that he had made friends for life from his experiences of being an owner.

He said: “All of the owners will be there – including William who lives in Australia – and I’m going down with my mum, my dad my sister and my girlfriend.

“When we’re all at the races, we all watch the horse together. There’s been some embarrassing moments when me, Lucinda and Scu have been stood there screaming at the top of our lungs!

“We’ve got an owners WhatsApp group, so we’re regularly in touch with each other. We’ve grown to be a really close-knit group and I couldn’t ask for a better group of lads to own him with.

“I’ve definitely caught the racing bug and my dream is just to make a career in racing.”