It has been well documented how well Venetia Williams’ horses have been running recently, There could be far more to come, however, with her yard sending six out across the Exeter and Warwick cards on Friday, with the possibility of a 1,278/1 six-timer. See how we rate their chances below alongside William Hill‘s new customer offer of Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets.
BELLATRIXSA (1.00 Exeter) 5/4
Although she was beaten on her return at Chepstow, BELLATRIXSA has followed up in decisive fashion the last twice.
She has won in handicap company at Ludlow over 2m5f and Hereford over 3m1½f which makes it particularly intriguing that she returns all the way back down to two miles for her run at Exeter. She did win over this trip at Huntingdon last season though.
There are some potentially dangerous rivals in opposition and her mark of 132 means she carries a welter burden of 12st 5lb, but like with so many in the yard, further progress seems very likely.
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ELEANOR BOB (3.05 Warwick) 6/4
Victories on her last two starts in mares’ only company have seen ELEANOR BOB join many of her stablemates on higher ratings.
She has gone up 13lb for those victories, though this is not too surprising given the company she has kept in the past. A trip of three miles clearly suits her and her wins have been achieved in cosy fashion.
Williams is clearly cajoling the best out of her and it is encouraging that those two successes have come after regular racing. That bodes well for another good run and it is difficult to oppose any Williams/Deutsch combinations towards the head of the market.
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ESPOIR DE GUYE (3.40 Warwick) Evs
It has been 364 days since ESPOIR DE GUYE last ran and it came in this very contest.
He was beaten in a commentator’s nightmare finish, with Espoir De Teillee getting the better of him. Due to the gap since that effort, he has been dropped 2lb and Williams’ eyes must have lit up at the prospect of running him off a mark of 145.
That is just 1lb higher than his last winning mark, which also came after a sizeable layoff of 255 days. He has also had wind surgery in the interim, so it would be a big surprise if he were not 100% fit and ready to go close here. The tiny field size of three is disappointing for a decent handicap, but it does nothing to harm Espoir De Guye’s chances.
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SNUFF BOX (3.50 Exeter) 10/3
With Deutsch at Warwick, 7lb claimer Lucy Turner is called up for the ride on staying chaser SNUFF BOX in the Devon National at Exeter.
The 11-year-old was another who did not immediately catch fire at the start of the season, finishing down the field twice. Concerningly, both of those came at Exeter, once over course and distance.
However, he does have a runner-up finish to his name at the track, and that by a neck. Similarly, his form has taken a wild turn for the better, with cosy wins at Bangor and then up to a marathon trip at Lingfield just a furlong shorter than what he will face on Friday.
A mark of 135 is 8lb higher than any he has faced in his career, but he could well be up to the task in the form he is in.
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OTTOLINE (4.10 Warwick) 13/2
No form to go on here, but OTTOLINE is out of a dam that the Williams team have had three previous runners from.
A full brother of the six-year-old Ottoline was the very useful grey Yalltari, who won four times for the yard in 15 starts under rules. He reached a peak rating of 147 over fences and was third in Grade 2 company in 2019.
He never ran in a bumper, which is what Ottoline is doing here. In time, he will almost certainly prefer further, but the going is currently heavy at Warwick and that could really help a horse who should comfortably have the stamina.
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HUNTER LEGEND (4.20 Exeter) 5/2
Hugh Nugent takes off 3lb in the last at Exeter tomorrow, with HUNTER LEGEND looking to go two places better than on his first two bumper starts.
Thirds at this course and at Ffos Las came on very different types of going. He fared marginally better at this track on his first start on good-to-soft ground, as opposed to the heavy surface he faced in Wales.
Only one of his rivals has won in Largy Train, but he now shoulders a 7lb penalty for doing so and Hunter Legend is very much a winner in waiting.
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