Potters Corner advertised his Coral Welsh Grand National credentials with a fine victory at Chepstow on Saturday.
The nine-year-old, owned by Wales rugby star Jonathan Davies in partnership with the All Stars Sports Racing Club, battled to success in the Kubota Mini Diggers Hurdle.
Ridden by 17-year-old Welsh jockey Jack Tudor, Potters Corner (11/1) held off the challenge of Remastered and Acordingtogino to win by a neck.
Having won the Midlands Grand National last season, Bridgend trainer Christian Williams is hopeful Potters Corner can win at home later in December.
“The Welsh National is the target,” he said. “Soft ground is the key for him and he hasn’t had it the last couple of runs.
“Hopefully, we’ll get a nice weight and have a decent run at it.”
The National trial, later on the card, was won by Acting Lass (3/1), but Harry Fry’s charge isn’t entered in the big race.
Tudor, another of the promising young Welsh jockeys on the scene, completed a double with a shock win on Nightboattoclyro (50/1).
Gavin Sheehan picked up the riding honours, though, with a treble on Domaine De L’isle, Dominateur and Cadmar.
The 2016 Coral Welsh National winner Native River warmed up for this year’s event with an easy win in Aintree’s Many Clouds Chase.
Elsewhere, Evan Williams and Adam Wedge recorded a notable double at Sandown, Mack The Man (8/1) adding to Esprit Du Large’s win (14/1) in the Grade One Henry VIII Novices Chase.
Earlier there, Oriental Cross won at 12/1 for Tim Vaughan and Alan Johns.
