Davies hoping for real thing at Aintree next season with Potters Corner

PA Sport Reporters
April 6, 2020 10:45 am

Wales rugby centre saw pride and joy race to virtual success on Saturday.

Part-owner Jonathan Davies admitted the victory of Potters Corner in the Virtual Grand National provided a bittersweet finish to the season.

The Wales rugby centre, who shares the 10-year-old with All Stars Sports Racing, had already enjoyed a memorable Welsh National win with Potters Corner at Christmas, adding to his Midlands National success of last term.

Trainer Christian Williams had long set his sights on the Aintree feature, but with the real race cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Potters Corner instead triumphed in a computer-generated substitute – leaving Davies somewhat conflicted in triumph.

So is there Virtual Grand National prize money 👀 @GarethMaule @StarsRacing @CWilliamsRacing #VGN20 #PottersCorner
— Jonathan Davies (@JonFoxDavies) April 4, 2020

He told TalkSPORT: “It is massively (bittersweet). When the race finished I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry to be honest. I am still hoping some virtual prize-money might come in at some point!

“It was interesting to see and I think with the situation everyone is in at the moment, everyone just enjoyed some virtual sport.

“I was in the living room watching with my fiancee. She was wincing when the horses were going down because I think she couldn’t quite grasp it was a computer.

“I kind of got into it, but at the end I wished I was in the owner’s parade ring ready to go and celebrate properly.”

Let’s go 💪🏻🏆#PottersCorner 👑 pic.twitter.com/4yIVycfmYR
— Christian Williams Racing (@CWilliamsRacing) April 4, 2020

Over GBP 2.6million was raised for NHS Charities Together, the umbrella organisation which represents over 140 NHS charities, through betting on the virtual race.

Davies added: “It was amazing to see how much money was raised for the NHS on Saturday. I would quite happily donate the virtual winnings to a good cause like that.”

As for Potters Corner, he is winding down at Williams’ Vale of Glamorgan base ahead of next season, with jumps racing on hold until July 1.

Davies said: “He’s probably in a field eating lots of grass getting heavy again. Christian is taking great care of him.

“He got him in great shape leading up to the race. We were really happy about how he was looking before the race was cancelled. He is probably just chilling now like everyone else.

“He was peaking for this race, it is a huge shame but there are more important things going on in the world right now than a horse race.”

Millions tuned in to see Potters Cross win the Virtual Grand National (Scott Wilson/PA)

Despite missing out on the Aintree experience, Davies is enjoying his foray into racehorse ownership, with his interest initially sparked by family members.

He explained: “It was my grandfather (who got me into racing). My uncle is also a big horse enthusiast, and I would always listen to my grandfather call in his bets as a kid.

“For me I had a good friend in rugby in Gareth Maule and he got friendly with Christian Williams. We always said we would get a horse and we have struck gold with Potters.

“He won the Midlands National last year, he won the Welsh National at the end of the year. For a group of us to be involved in horse racing and have some wins behind us, we have had a great time with Potters.”