No repeat for Potters Corner as Welsh Grand National winner bypasses race

Potters Corner, who had been the ante-post 12-1 joint favourite for the Coral Welsh Grand National, will not attempt a repeat of his Chepstow heroics after last season's winner was scratched from the race.

The stamina-sapping Christmas highlight is set to be run on December 27 but will not feature the defending champion, with Aintree and the Randox Health Grand National at the forefront of trainer Christian Williams’ reasoning.

In a post on his website, Williams said: “After a lengthy discussion with the owners of Potters Corner it has been decided to scratch the horse from the 2020 Coral Welsh National.

“Having won the 2019 running it would have been brilliant to take him back to defend his title but we have made no secret the Aintree Grand National is our main focus for this season.

Connections celebrate Potters Corner's victory in the Welsh Grand NationalCredit: Edward Whitaker

“Following his success in last year's race it was evident the stamina-sapping contest left its mark and it took a lengthy period of time to get Potters Corner back to his usual self.”

The ten-year-old, owned by Wales rugby ace Jonathan Davies and a syndicate managed by ex-Scarlets player Gareth Maule, provided teenage rider Jack Tudor with the biggest day of his young career when leading home the Paul Nicholls-trained duo of Truckers Lodge and Yala Enki in the mud last December.

He returned after an absence of 322 days at last month’s Cheltenham November meeting, having a fine first spin around the cross-country course to finish a respectable third, and it is a discipline Williams and connections are keen to continue with on their way to Aintree.

Williams added: “To hopefully give him some longevity we've decided to go down the Cross Country route so successfully navigated by Tiger Roll in previous years.

“Therefore he'll receive an entry for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on December 11. All being well, Potters Corner would then head back to Cheltenham for the festival next March and then on to Aintree in April.”

The Colin Tizzard-trained Lamanver Pippin and Ramses De Teillee, from the David Pipe stable, have been left at the head of the betting for the Welsh Grand National, with Sam Brown, Yala Enki and Cloudy Glen also prominent in the market.

Potters Corner is a best price 33-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook for the Grand National at Aintree.

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