A FILM star will be joining a champion trainer and a Baroness to launch a new equine clinic in Minehead on Sunday.

Prize-winning racehorse Dream Alliance is the star of a new film released this month, which charts his rise to fame from humble beginnings on a Welsh allotment to the winner of the Welsh Grand National.

Having retired to West Somerset, he will be a VIP guest alongside his former trainer, Bilbrook's Philip Hobbs and wife Sarah, at the opening of White Lodge Veterinary Clinic's farm and equine treatment centre.

Baroness Ann Mallalieu, the president of the Countryside Alliance, will officially open the new facility on the outskirts of Minehead at around 12.30pm.

"We're hoping Dream Alliance won't upstage Baroness Mallalieu, but we're sure he'll draw the crowds and will definitely be worth coming out to see, especially as he has got such a great back story," said White Lodge partner, vet Philip Browne.

"We're delighted that such an esteemed thoroughbred can join us for our launch event.

"He is a big star in racing circles but has also received lots of recognition for his 'rags to riches' rise to fame and has appeared in national newspapers and on the TV news in the past and also just this month," he said.

Dream Alliance was reared on an allotment near the town of Blackwood in south Wales by Janet Vokes, whose main experience until then had been breeding whippets.

The horse went on to win one of the biggest races in the country – the Welsh Grand National.

His remarkable tale has been turned into a documentary film – Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance - which was released in UK cinemas last week.

The new White Lodge Farm and Equine Veterinary Clinic has been built from scratch over the last eight months near the Ellicombe roundabout in Minehead.

The launch event will be invitation only from 11am until 1pm, before opening to the general public from 1pm until 3pm.

The free open day will also include the chance to see Jersey calves, Jacob lambs, a show-winning miniature American horse and two shire horses.

"We will have a raffle and guess the weight of the horse competition.

"Drug and feed reps will be on hand to offer lots of complimentary advice and I will be giving guided tours of our new facilities.

"My colleague Simon White will be running visual displays too," said Mr Browne.

White Lodge already has practices in Williton and Minehead and works with 'all creatures great and small', from small pets to farm breeds to horses and even zoo animals.