WILLIAMS EYES THE REAL POT
CHRISTIAN Williams already has one eye on Aintree 2021 after tasting victory in Saturday’s Virtual Grand National.
The Welsh trainer, who is based in Ogmore-by-Sea in the Vale of Glamorgan, watched from home as stable star Potters Corner took the computerised contest at odds of 18-1.
The fast-finishing Walk In The Mill (16-1) was second with Any Second Now (10-1) back in third.
Tiger Roll, the 5-1 favourite, was anchored by his virtual weight in fourth and 12-1 chance Burrows Saint finished fifth.
Potters Corner would have started among the market leaders had the actual Grand National taken place. He won the real-life Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in December under teenage jockey Jack Tudor.
He is owned by Wales rugby star Jonathan Davies in partnership with the All Star Sports Racing Club.
“I hope it’s a good omen for next year,” said Williams, who has made a sparkling start to his training career.
“I’m looking forward to giving him a nice break and bringing him back for next season.”
The virtual race took centre stage on ITV’s schedules as all horse racing in Great Britain has been suspended until at least the end of April because of the coronavirus emergency.
Forty runners who would have been most likely to line up at Aintree took part, using CGI technology and special algorithms.
It looked as though outsider Aso might claim an unexpected victory until his fall at the second-last fence, with Potters Corner then emerging on top from a duel with Walk In The Mill on the long run to the line.
Williams, formerly a top jump jockey who finished second in the 2005 National on Royal Auclair, added: “I’m delighted, it’s great and great to cheer everyone up in tough times. I think even people from outside of racing were tuned in.
“People are stuck in their houses and it probably got a good viewing.
“It was something to watch together and have a bit of banter leading up to it.”
Asked what he was thinking on the run to the line, he said: “Potters Corner stays very well, he won the Welsh National and the Midlands National and in the Welsh National they closed on him at the death as well, so I had a fair idea they might do it like that from the Elbow.
“I didn’t think they’d let him past, he stays very well and if it’s done on the computer and stats I doubt they’d let anyone outstay him up the run-in.
“He’s such a laid-back character, he’s in the field with two foals and he’s quite a calming influence. They use him as a bit of a guide, as he’s such a good, kind horse.
“We’re just praying everyone is safe. The sooner we can get back racing the better, but there’s no panic.
“If we can get back (jumps) racing by July 1, then brilliant, but if it’s not right, it’s not right.
“It’s not in our hands, the government will call it. We’ll go through rougher spells probably in the next week or so, but hopefully if things can plateau out maybe we can have a little bit of positive news and racing has a chance of coming back, hopefully.”
Welsh teenage jockey Tudor is not currently qualified to ride in the National, but Williams is confident he would have secured the winners he needed had racing not been shut down last month.
“He would have ridden Potters Corner because I’d have given him two winners before the race,” the trainer said.
“I had two chasers that were capable of winning but racing stopped three weeks ago.”
Tudor also found the virtual race happy viewing and said: “It was pretty weird sat at home watching it with my family.
“It was exciting to watch, as it’s virtual you never know quite what’s going to happen.
“It was close at the end but I’m glad we held on. And it shows he would have gone there with a chance for real.”
Part-owner Davies tweeted: “So is there Virtual Grand National prize money?”