Williams out to end best-ever season on a high with stable star Potters Corner

Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase | 4m2f | 5yo+ | RTE2/RTV

It has been a season to remember for Christian Williams, who sent out a personal-best tally of 34 winners in Britain, and the Welshman will be bidding to crown that memorable campaign by sending out Potters Corner, the horse who put him on the map, to win at the Punchestown festival.

By Williams' own admission, the former Welsh Grand National winner is not the force of old. However, the prospects of seeing his stable star tackle a discipline he loves, and the opportunity to scope out Punchestown for future riches, was too much of a lure for the trainer.

While Williams is keeping everything crossed that Potters Corner can roll back the years in the La Touche, he is also keeping a close eye on what happens in the races where he doesn't have runners with the view of plotting an ambitious tilt at next year's festival.

He said: "We're really enjoying our trip over and we might look at having more runners at Punchestown in the future. This week has been about getting to grips with the programme, walking the track to see what type of horse you need to be competitive over here and, you never know, we might draw up a plan for next season and map out one or two horses for Punchestown in 2023."

Williams heaped praise on Potters Corner for getting his career up and running and, while he admits the task at Punchestown won't be easy, he is looking forward to the challenge.

He said: "Potters Corner has been a wonderful horse for my career. He has brought us to some brilliant places and, not only has he been brilliant for me in that he has opened the door for me to meet some fantastic people, he has been excellent for Jack Tudor's career as well.

"He's obviously not the same horse he once was as he is in the latter stages of his career, but he loves the cross-country course at Cheltenham and I'd be surprised if he didn't enjoy it around Punchestown."

Williams added: "It gives us a lot of pleasure watching him in the cross-country races and we're hoping he makes us proud again.

"We will probably train him for the two handicaps at Cheltenham next season and then make a decision on whether we call time on his career or not, but we'll get this out of the way first."

Potters Corner (left): would cap a remarkable year for his trainer if he won thisCredit: Edward Whitaker

Top Punchestown Operator could give away the weight

As sure as the sun will rise in the morning, Enda Bolger can be counted on readying one for the La Touche, and if Shady Operator can be successful it would represent a remarkable 15th win in the race for the man who is rightly known as the king of the banks.

So reliable was Bolger in the late nineties, he sent out the winner of the La Touche ten years on the trot from 1997, and, while things have become tougher, his stable's runners are often the first place to look when seeking out the winner.

Shady Operator may not have been a factor behind Delta Work and Tiger Roll at Cheltenham but, back at his favourite track and with the ground to suit, he looks to have rock-solid claims.

In fact, Shady Operator's record at Punchestown is better than anywhere else given he is two from three over this cross-country course. He has rock-solid claims of adding to his trainer's long and proud record in this race.

Shady Operator: two from three over the banks at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Vital Island adds to the allure in this contest. A winner of the Ladies' Cup on Tuesday, he faces a stiffer task here, but obviously deserves respect in his bid to secure a rare double.

Last year's winner, the Philip Rothwell-trained Singing Banjo, should not be underestimated but, like Shady Operator, has the burden of carrying 12st 7lb.

What they say

Enda Bolger, trainer of Shady Operator
The weight is the big worry with him. Giving weight away to most of his rivals will not be easy but, having said that, his record around Punchestown is very good and we're hoping that his ability to act around the track might offset the weight burden. He will love the nice ground and is in very good form. This has been the plan for him ever since Cheltenham, where the ground went bad for him and he didn't act as well on it. He just wasn't good enough for those better cross-country horses there, but he'll be back in his comfort zone here and we're hopeful of a big show.

Philip Rothwell, trainer of Singing Banjo and Future Proof
I think Singing Banjo has a great chance. The ground is in his favour and, while he has a lot of weight to carry, I think he'll put up a bold show. His schooling has been unbelievable at home. I was happy with his run at Tramore, where the ground wasn't to his liking, but he had a good blow and will come on a lot for that. We're not sure if Future Proof will stay the trip, but he seems to be enjoying the schooling and we might even run him again later in the week depending on how he gets on here.

Ross O'Sullivan, trainer of Call It Magic
He's been a great horse for our yard and has been very consistent. He won at the festival last year and we know that he always comes right around this time of year. He schooled well the other day and he loves this track, and is looking great in himself. He might be 12 years' old, but there are plenty of positives and we're looking forward to running him.

Peter Maher, trainer of Ballyboker Bridge and Blast Of Koeman
Ballyboker might be 15 years' old but he never lets me down when he gets his ground. On hard ground, he'll always run his race, and I reckon he could have a big each-way chance in this. Blast Of Koeman has been a bit unlucky for me because he hasn't had wet conditions. They are watering, but it looks like it'll favour Ballyboker more.

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