2020 Virtual Grand National: 18-1 Potters Corner wins the big race at Aintree

Potters Corner clung on grimly under an inspired ride from jockey Jack Tudor to land the 2020 Virtual Grand National at odds of 18-1, beating the well-fancied Walk In The Mill in second and earning himself a place in the virtual history books.

2020 Virtual Grand National full result: where your horse finished and who won

Tiger Roll, who won the 2018 Virtual Grand National as well as the 2018 and 2019 real-life versions, was sent off the 5-1 favourite as he attempted to record another National success but could finish only fourth to the dismay of punters and history enthusiasts.

Result: the first five home

1 Potters Corner 18-1
2 Walk In The Mill 16-1
3 Any Second Now 10-1
4 Tiger Roll 5-1
5 Burrows Saint 12-1

The much-anticipated contest produced more drama than you might normally witness in a computer game with numerous fallers and thrilling developments throughout, not least when 66-1 shot Aso unceremoniously came to grief when well clear at the second-last fence.

Jockey Charlie Deutsch, who was seeking his first win in the Aintree showpiece, and trainer Venetia Williams, successful with 100-1 outsider Mon Mome in 2009, were left heartbroken and shocked as their charge threw away his chance of creating history when crumpling on landing. It was a case of what might have been for the partnership, who may not remember this day fondly in years to come.

Potters Corner, trained by Christian Williams, took advantage and surged through for Wales, in the process making winning rider Tudor, 17, the youngest jockey to win the Grand National since Bruce Hobbs on Battleship in 1938.

Intriguingly, Tudor was not even qualified to ride in the real Grand National at the time racing shutdown, having not ridden enough chase winners. When luck is on your side, things go well for you.

Walk In The Mill threatened in the straight but could never quite get on terms with the winner despite his strong late burst, while Any Second Now stayed on for third.

Tiger Roll looked like winning for a long way and went clear of his rivals well into the final circuit but faded late under his hefty weight of 11st 10lb.

In total, 19 horses completed the 4m2½f Grand National course, while 14 runners fell or unseated their rider and seven refused.

Fundraising for NHS charities

Williams and Tudor weren't the only winners though, with bookmakers donating all profits from betting on the event, for which stakes were limited to a maximum of £10 win or £10 each-way, to NHS Charities Together, an organisation that represents more than 140 NHS charities.

In the absence of any other live sporting events, interest in the Virtual Grand National had snowballed in the last few days.

The coronavirus pandemic caused the 2020 Grand National at Aintree to be called off in mid-March, but the virtual equivalent, hosted by Nick Luck on ITV and called by Stewart Machin, stepped up to the plate and created a buzz the nation needed.

Runners in the 2020 Virtual Grand National, in which Aintree legend Tiger Roll could finish only fourth

Although it is not the real deal, the virtual Grand National is a computer-simulated version, which was made up of mathematical algorithms, of Aintree's world-famous steeplechase, designed by Inspired Entertainment. They used computer-generated imagery (CGI) to recreate, as accurately as possible, all aspects of the race such as the course layout and National fences.

More 2020 Virtual Grand National news:

2020 Virtual Grand National full result: where your horse finished and who won

Bookmakers pledge profits from virtual Grand National will go to NHS charities

'The race that never was' – ITV gears up for Virtual Grand National show

Bookmakers have pledged to donate any profits from betting on the Virtual Grand National to the NHS Charities COVID-19 Urgent Appeal. You can donate to this important cause here