Venetia Williams Double-Handed For Haydock Highlight

Trainer Venetia Williams will be double-handed as she looks to win the coveted Betfair Chase at Haydock later in the month. The Grand National winning trainer will be represented by both L'Homme Presse and Royale Pagaille for the Grade 1 contest, one of the first so-called trials for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Both runners are expected to put in top performances, particularly the six-time chase winner, L'Homme Presse who hasn't been seen since being an unlucky last fence faller in the King George VI Chase at Kempton last Christmas.

A Master Trainer

Venetia Williams is one of the top jump racing trainers in Britain and has assembled a very impressive list of race wins throughout both her riding and training careers. The Herefordshire handler is particularly adept at training staying chasers such as the aforementioned L'Homme Presse and Royale Pagaille, something that led to her recording the biggest success of her career with Mon Mome winning the Grand National in 2009.

Fancy Having Your Own Horse With The Humble Horsewoman?

If you are tuning in to watch the action at the end of November, try to imagine that you could be watching your own horse strut its stuff on the racetrack. With the continued growth and popularity of the racehorse syndicate business, anyone can have a share in a racehorse and enjoy the incredible action up close and personal.

You could be experiencing the behind-the-scenes action at Venetia Williams yard, with the leading lady of racing now being a trainer for the Raceshare syndicates, alongside the likes of William Haggas, John Quinn, and others. It has never been easier to get involved in the equine action.

Will Williams Win At Haydock?

Speaking of excellent equine action, Venetia Williams' two runners will be taking on some of racing's top three-mile chasers at Haydock. Chief amongst those in opposition is last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup fifth-placed finisher, Protektorat, who will represent the dynamic duo of Dan and Harry Skelton.

Irish raider, Gerri Colombe is perhaps the most interesting runner in the field. The youngster, trained by Gordon Elliott, was a hugely exciting novice chaser last year and ended his season with a magnificent Grade 1 win at Aintree. This will be his first battle with the big boys, but he is a classy customer with bags of potential.

Gerri Collombe's entry may be very interesting but another big story is the continuation of Shishkin's three-mile chasing career. One of the best horses the sport had seen in some time a few years ago, the wheels came off of Nicky Henderson's stable star's career at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022.

Jack Kennedy on GERRI COLOMBE, via @DavidJenningsRP:

"I can't wait, I'm really looking forward to it. He's a horse I've really liked from day one and he seems to be progressing every season.

"He does nothing flashy at home at all. He only does what you ask him to do and I… pic.twitter.com/WDrXXwagPJ

— Road To Cheltenham (@RoadCheltenham) October 31, 2023

Since then he has made the step up to race over three-mile trips, and it seems to have rejuvenated the former Champion Chaser. This will be his first visit to Haydock Park, but it is a track that should play to his strengths and a big performance looks to be in the offing.

In what is shaping up to be a top-class renewal of the Grade 1 contest, the field could also include two former Cheltenham Gold Cup winners in Minella Indo and A Plus Tard, last season's Gold Cup 2nd and 3rd, Bravemansgame and Conflated, as well as Grand National winner, Corach Rambler.

It promises to be quite a spectacle at Haydock and Venetia Williams will be heading there full of confidence in her two runners, and, thanks to the likes of RaceShare's racing syndicates, who knows, your own horse could be lining up in twelve months' time!