BRITAIN'S oldest Grand National winner is alive and well and living in a horse rehabilitation centre, near Preston.

Hallo Dandy was last seen on the small screen crossing the winning line at Aintree in 1984.

Punters across the country will remember Dan's moment of glory when he was paraded to the winner's enclosure, and photographed by paparazzi of the racing world with the shining trophy. The moment was captured for prosperity. But sadly the horse's fortune did not last quite so long.

The former star was rescued by Carrie Humble, of Nateby, from its former home in Surrey that couldn't have been further removed from the glamour of the winner's enclosure.

Reports at the time described Dandy as being in a 'distressed state . . . scarred by the weather and uncared for'. He was given just six months to live by vets. So Carrie brought the horse to the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre, near Preston, which she runs. And now, six years on, Hallo Dandy has recovered and is enjoying the retirement which befits a thoroughbred of his class.

Carrie, who needs £10,000 a month to keep the centre going, said: "He is now 26, making him the oldest living Grand National winner and he is remarkably well.

"He still has slight arthritis but loves racing around the paddock, although we don't ride him anymore. He is our figurehead now and people love to visit him."

Dandy is the only permanent resident at the Nateby centre, with the other 50 horses Carrie cares for each year being rehomed.

Carrie added: "We rely entirely on donations to look after our horses. And we are needed because the horse industry is over-breeding and many race horses are abandoned at an early age.

"Racing is a £6.8billion-a-year industry, so it wouldn't hurt for a little to be set aside to protect unwanted horses whose working days are over."

To help Carrie's centre, ring (01995) 605007.

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