13 April 2023 , 11:00
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Corach Rambler's white nose pokes through a posse of Grand National rivals as the competition hots up.
He is surrounded, but jockey Derek Fox knows the way out – he has done it before. Corach finds the gap, weaves through two horses in front of him and powers to the line. It is a dream Gary Scott, one of the lucky seven shareholders in the Lucinda Russell-trained favourite, has had many times.
"Every time I'm drifting off to sleep, that's how the race goes in my head," said the 58-year-old golf company driver. "Corach gets to the Elbow with the two horses to overtake – and he always wins."
The equine surprise package cost just £17,000, a miniscule sum for a dual Cheltenham Festival winner. The handicapper was impressed with his Ultima late dash, hiking Corarch's rating 10lb - yet it does not kick in until after the next stop.
"We bought a campervan to watch Corach at some wee racecourses, but we have had to take the train as the meetings are so busy," said Gary.
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"I actually feel like I'm on a plane that is coming down to land and then it takes off again. We're up on cloud nine anyway."
Corach Rambler has been to Aintree once before - on the day when Gary's daughter Laura was getting married in October 2021.
Corach Rambler coming into the winners enclosure at Cheltenham after winning the Ultima Handicap Chase for the second time (PA)"Five minutes before my father of the bride speech, guests across the room were giving me the thumbs up," he said. "Corach's win was perfect timing."
So was Cameron Sword's first dip into racehorse ownership, at the yard which scooped the National pot with One For Arthur in 2017. The Heriot-Watt university student only began watching racing during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Corach Rambler was the sole horse for sale with Russell at the time – and the 21-year-old, one of the youngest owners in National history, decided to take the plunge.
"Corach was the price of a mid-range car and he has won almost £200,000 and given us two days at the Festival we will never forget," he said. "We had to pinch ourselves when we were there with owners who have spent millions on the sport. I have been told by many, it doesn't get better than this."
Corach Rambler is on the right side of the handicapper for the big race (PA)It is rather apt that Cameron and Gary are joined on the market leader's team by William Wallace, a Scot who lives in Australia. For accountant Thomas Kendall, "next-level nerves" are kicking in as the race, worth £500,000 to the winner, draws ever closer.
"We are just normal people, this is a once in a lifetime thing," the 32-year-old said.
Thomas revels in the time he gets to spend with their superstar at Russell's Kinross yard.
After a stressful day doing the sums, he chats away to Corach, sent packets of mints in the post by wellwishers.
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"Corach probably thinks I'm bonkers! I find it theraputic talking to him," he said. "I tell him what he has achieved and how proud of him we are. To us he is much more than the Grand National favourite."