Sunday 26th October 2025

[yorick]

Good morning and welcome to the end of summer as the clocks fall back. We'll now be into the NHprogramme for the season in earnest and I love it. It was gratifying to see the Cheltenham card yesterday and, my God, what great racing there was; so entertaining and not one TV pundit insight in this house; just me and the computer, sometimes on mute and others listening to the commentary, depending on my mood.

I put yesterday's choices in the 'What are you backing today thread but think it's more fun for me to be able to post in my own blog. After, that's what it's there for, eh? Anyway, here are my yesterday picks:

Galeron - 3.50 Donc Ew 9/1 2nd 9/1
Whistle Stop Tour - Kelso Ew 5/1 NR
2 x Ew Singles
Ew Double

Then, because it looks like good sport, I'll have a little Ew L15 on:

Zurich - Chelt 1.10 12/1 Won
Diamond Dealer Kelso 2.10 9/4 Won
Transmission - Chelt 2.20 15/2 Unpl
Welcome to Cartries - Chelt 4.05 9/2 Unpl

Today, it's Cheltenham again and I'll be tucking into some races there and a couple at Fontwell.

These are early season picks with all the attendant unknowns attached so they're tentative, of course but I'm looking to see how I fare.

Kikijo - Cheltenham 12.40 4/1
Tom Doniphon - Cheltenham 1.15 5/1
Largy Poet - Fontwell 1.30 0/30

Le Milos - Cheltenham 1.50 0/30
Twin Jets - Fontwell 2.05 11/2
Boombawn - Cheltenham 2.55 0/30

2 x win Patents

Not great prices, I know, but here's hoping.


Good luck

 

[barjon]

Good luck with those, gotta be in with a chance.

 

[yorick]

You'd think so, wouldn't you. Much better chance than Palace at Arsenal today.

Cheers BJ.

 

[Jayhawk]

Bucksy Des Epeires - rated 125 - ( 7/4 ) is Venetia Williams's first runner of the autumn in the 2:05 at Fontwell. I won't be having a bet on him this afternoon, but a good run should see him in better races later in the season.
Her next entry isn't until Friday - Hunter Legend at Wetherby - and there is some rain in the weather forecast which is a plus. I haven't got any stats on it, but I have a feeling that she does particularly well in the valuable handicap chases at Ascot.

 

[Euronymous]

Venetia Williams, jesus f$%^ing christ sometimes she's the best trainer in the land but oftentimes she's completely hopeless. I got 9/2 about that piece of shit yesterday, long term tracker horse. How tf did he not win that, a terrible contest. Etalon my God, the worst chaser in training was close up. Horrendous start to the season

 

[yorick]

Early last season I knew I'd written about the trend of VW's runners not firing early doors. I've just searched it and here it is:

Thursday 21st November 2024
It seems to be a trend that the Venetia Williams’ stable doesn’t really fire in the season’s early stages. Come November and December, though, the winners begin to flow. This is her time of year, I think.

Well, the next day, 22nd Nov, she got her first win of the season. Haha. I kid you not.

According to my scattered musings, it seems we may have to wait a few weeks yet. Nonsense, I know, but that's all I have left to me now when it comes to horse racing: a know-all who knows nothing, usually. This has piqued my interest. I shall be following her runners to see when she registers her first winner.

The stats show that by November, the winners start to arrive and then December up to March is her harvest time.

 

[yorick]

First winner 1st of November.

 

[luckyme]

Venetia Williams Ascot
● Race Type: ALL Handicap Chases
● Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
● Odds: Any
47 bets / 16 wins / 20p / 34% sr / +51 SP / +62 BFSP / BFAE 2.04

Venetia Williams Ludlow
● Standard Handicap Chases & Handicap Hurdles (not novice)
● Horse runs this season: 0 to 4
● Odds: 15/2 or shorter SP (best)
66 bets / 21 wins / 33p / 32% wsr / +40 SP / +53 BFSP / BFAE 1.55