Grand National 2025: ‘Horse of the folks’ Queen Camilla and followers backed in £60 dream

Hundreds of racing fans led by Queen Camilla are praying “horse of the people” Thank You Ma’am will run at Aintree on Grand National Saturday

Hundreds of racing fans led by Queen Camilla are praying the “horse of the people” they bought for just £60 will qualify to run at Aintree on Grand National Saturday.

Camilla is among 482 folk across Britain who own an ear, wisp of hair or hoof nail of Thank You Ma’am, via a syndicate set up to bring racing to the masses.

All paid just £60 to claim a chunk of the six-year-old thoroughbred – named in honour of the racing mad late Queen Elizabeth II.

Camilla – patron of The Jockey Club – loved the Royal link and the name and could not wait to get on board.

The horse – trained by Georgina Nicholls and ridden by her 19-year-old daughter Olive – turned out to be far better than many imagined and romped to victory at Ascot in December.

Now he is set to star at Aintree on Grand National day with the eyes of the world watching. He has been entered in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle, which kick-starts the big race day.

But his legion of owners face a nerve-shredding wait to see if he will qualify to run. The prestigious race is reserved for the top 22 ranked entrants – and he is 27th.

However, sources said several were considering dropping out due to dry conditions and firm ground.

Just the prospect of him running sparked a run on Aintree tickets with owners and their families planning to descend en masse on the Merseyside racecourse.

Estate worker Clive Huggins, 61, from Oxfordshire, who owns a forelock, said: “I have lived in the ‘valley of the racehorse’ all my life and have always loved seeing the horses working come rain or shine.

“I always said `one day’. And that dream has come true. To see my horse race at Aintree on Grand National day would be the stuff of fantasy.”

Trainer Georgina said: “Thank You Ma’am has become a phenomenon. Everybody loves him. In fact nearly everybody owns him.”

Jockey Olive added: “There is a pressure riding a horse that you know so many people are watching. But I take it as a positive. I know I’ve got an army behind me all willing us to win.”

Former bookmaker boss Rupert Adams, who runs The Posh Pundit Racing Syndicate, said: “It feels like we’re in a race against time just to get into the race.

“I set this up to give people who would never normally have the chance to get involved in racing the chance to own a horse.

“I never imagined how popular it would become – or that the Queen would want to get involved.

“To see our horse on Grand National Saturday would be a dream come true for everyone.”

Rupert has offered Daily Star readers the chance to join the party in time for the `off’. You too can own a Grand National day runner here: https://www.theposhpundit.co.uk/