Grand National: Pigeon fancier's flight of fantasy brought to earth but the dream lives on

Grand plan succeeds as fate casts Hedgehunter as hero

Fergus Wilson is the most affable of owners, but as the field approached the Canal Turn there was a hint of exasperation in his voice. "The commentator hasn't even mentioned Astonville," he said, peering into the distance from the top of the Owners and Trainers Stand. "We're second in the Grand National and he hasn't even mentioned us."

Fergus Wilson is the most affable of owners, but as the field approached the Canal Turn there was a hint of exasperation in his voice. "The commentator hasn't even mentioned Astonville," he said, peering into the distance from the top of the Owners and Trainers Stand. "We're second in the Grand National and he hasn't even mentioned us."

Most boys dream of playing for Manchester United or of opening the batting for England. "I dreamed of owning a Grand National winner," Wilson had said before the race. "It's what I've always wanted to do, ever since I was five years old."

Having already won pigeon racing's equivalent, Wilson and his wife, Judith, have been trying to win the equine version since 1998, when their first National runner pulled up at the 11th. Showing the financial prudence which has seen them build a hugely successful property business (they ranked 654th in the latest rich list with a fortune estimated at £75m), they search the French market for horses with their best days apparently behind them but with a high enough rating to earn entry to Britain's most important races.

"It's our way of getting to the big races," Fergus said. "We haven't got time to go to other races. The only other days we've had at the races this year were at Cheltenham." Judith added: "We tell the trainers before we place the horses with them exactly what we want because some aren't comfortable with 'fun runners'."

Their current crop of five French horses includes Astonville, who cost just £5,200 and at Cheltenham last month became one of a select group of horses to run in the same year's Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup. Undeterred by critics of their "racing for fun" approach - the only horse to finish behind Astonville in either race at Cheltenham was their own Turnium, though five failed to complete in the Gold Cup - they sent the 11-year-old to Aintree.

Having set out from their Kent home at six in the morning, the Wilsons reached Aintree in time for a quick visit to Astonville in the stables. It was hard to miss their party as it included four members of Maidstone Rugby Club wearing gaudy red, white and black blazers. Peter Parvin, 70, was making his first visit to Aintree, where his father rode in 15 Nationals, finishing second to Reynoldstown on Blue Prince in 1935.

Half an hour before the big race Peter Scudamore, son and assistant to Astonville's trainer, Michael, sent the horse into the parade ring, where Fergus had some final words for Brian Crowley, the jockey. "Try and stay in the first six or so for the first two or three jumps," he said. "Do your best to finish. We've got no other ambitions for the horse this season, so it's not a question of saving him for anything else."

Crowley followed his owner's instructions to perfection and from the first was in the leading group. Jumping smoothly and with energy to burn, Astonville cleared Becher's Brook in third place. "We're not doing too badly," Fergus said, trying to hide his excitement. "Whatever happens from now everyone will have to admit he's put up a good performance."

Astonville had jumped fence No12 towards the end of the first circuit, only for the dream to die as the horse veered off to the right and Crowley dismounted. "Something's obviously happened to the horse," Judith said. "And he was going so well." As the main field headed off into the distance on the second circuit, Crowley remounted Astonville and trotted back towards the stands. "There we are - first over the finish line," Fergus said ruefully.

Anxious about Astonville's welfare, Fergus sought out Crowley after the race and emerged from the weighing room with a rueful smile. "Brian said he was going tremendously well. He thought he was going to be in with a shout at the end. He was jumping beautifully. Then Astonville swerved to one side. Brian thought he was lame, so he pulled him up. But when he got back on him he was perfectly OK. Brian is absolutely gutted. He was incredibly apologetic but I told him not to worry about it."

Fergus is charmingly philosophical "Astonville was a cheap lottery ticket," he said. "I see people here who've spent £100,000 or more on horses which didn't run as well as Astonville. We've had a great day."

Will the Wilsons be back next year? "We will be if we can find a horse of the right calibre, but that's become increasingly difficult in recent years because the quality of horses in the National has been going up and up. Astonville almost certainly won't get into the race, so I think we'll sell him.

"We could put him in the Topham here, but I'm not so sure that's what we want to do. I like climbing Everest and everything else is second best."