Potters Corner flying Wales flag at Aintree as Christian Williams and rugby star Jonathan Davies target Grand National

TOPPING Potters Corner’s Welsh Grand National heroics will take some doing for trainer Christian Williams.

But if he can win the biggest one of all, the Randox Grand National at Aintree, even proud Welshman Williams will have to admit that memorable day at Chepstow has been trumped.

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Williams has finished second in the National as a jockey[/caption]

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Jockey Jack Tudor will again be on board the Welsh Grand National winner[/caption]

His stable star became the first Welsh-trained horse to win their home National for 54 years in 2019.

And after landing the Virtual National last season, this time round it’s the real thing.

Part-owned by Lions and Wales rugby star Jonathan Davies, Potters Corner has built up a loyal following over the past couple of years.

And now the horse and his sizeable fan club face their biggest challenge to date – a race that’s long been circled in Williams’ calendar.

He said: “We would have run him in the race last year and we were looking forward to it before it was cancelled but our main aim then had always been the Welsh National.

“But now this season it’s all been about letting the horse take his chance at Aintree and getting him here in the best possible shape.

“We know how big this race is and Potters Corner has built up a bit of a fan-club, people like him.

“I imagine there will be a good few people sat at home cheering him on from the sofa.

“People are always asking about him and messaging me and congratulating me when he won his races last season.

“He’s been schooling and working brilliantly of late, and that meant the excitement really started to grow in the yard. We just can’t wait.”

With owners allowed back on course at Aintree, Williams had hoped rugby star Davies would be able to help cheer on their 11-year-old.

But with another possible Lions tour to prepare for Davies may be forced to miss out – especially after his last visit to the racecourse ended in injury.

Christian Williams Racing

Wales rugby star Davies part-owns the horse[/caption]

Williams explained: “Jonathan doesn’t get to come and see him often for obvious reasons but he was injured last season and managed to get to Chepstow when he won the Welsh Grand National.

“He was halfway through his rehab with his knee and I don’t think jumping about in the paddock helped too much, he said it set him back a few weeks!

“He loved it though, he classes it on a par with his other great sporting achievements watching his horse win the Welsh National, and Aintree would even top that I reckon.”

Williams was once best-known as Denman’s jockey while based with Paul Nicholls, and during his career in the saddle Williams managed a runner-up finish in the National as well as a fourth.

But since injuries forced Williams into the training ranks, it’s been Potters Corner helping his Welsh team reach new heights and his handler knows he is tailor-made for these marathon events.

Williams said: “Everything suits him in these staying races, he’s a laid-back horse.

“He conserves energy on the way to the races, he’s always relaxed once he’s there and it’s only when the business-end of the race comes he seems to wake up. And that’s all that matters. That’s what makes him a real National specialist.

“He’s run well in a Somerset National, gone well in an Eider Chase before falling, won a Midlands National and then a Welsh National. And of course I can’t forget the virtual National!

“We want to keep growing as a yard and it’s down to horses like Potters that help us try and do that. He rarely lets us down on the big day and he seems to always get the job done.”

Williams trains at the picturesque Ogmore Farm in deep south Wales, right on the coast.

And training by the ocean has its benefits for Potters Corner, who once struggled to stay sound.

Williams explained: “He goes in the river everyday, he enjoys it and we try and keep the same routine.

“He goes to the beach two or three days a week and he has 15 or so minutes. He’s had a small bit of leg trouble three or four years ago so this seems to work with him too.

“He’s had an away day too. We’ve got some experience into him over the fences at Lambourn.

“We did it before the Welsh National, we took him to Henrietta Knight’s only two days before the race. And we can only afford to do things like this with him because he’s so relaxed.”

For Williams, teenage jockey Jack Tudor and his tight-knit Welsh team, a win at Aintree really would be the fairytale ending for their star Potters Corner.

The trainer continued: “It would be brilliant to win it, it’s the dream for everyone for a reason.

“But it would mean even more for the staff here and all our owners too. Even to have a runner in the race is great and a boost to us all but to have one there with a real chance is even better.

“The Welsh National was special for us being a Welsh yard and is hard to top, but this is probably the only thing that could do it.”