Friday Racing Tips: Back Venetia Williams to come out on top at Ascot

Jump racing holds sway across Britain and Ireland on Friday with six meetings taking place across the afternoon and into the evening. First off is Catterick before they go to Tipperary, Ascot and Chepstow over jumps, while the evening fare on the all-weather comes from Newcastle and Dundalk.

Amongst our Friday fancies are a pair for trainer Venetia Williams who don't arrive here in the best of form, but this could be the time of year to catch them at their best.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

13.30 Ascot - Joyeuse @ 2/1

JOYEUSE is a half-sister to 2020 Champion Hurdle winner Epatante and will face her stiffest task yet in this 1m7½f ‘Introductory’ Hurdle, but Nicky Henderson's mare should be well up to the task on her seasonal reappearance.

She landed a French maiden bumper in October 2022 and, after 450 days off the track, she was visually very impressive when scoring on her British and hurdling debut at Taunton back in January.

The second, Tutti Quanti, won a Ffos Las novice hurdle this month, the third Into The Park won twice since, while the fourth, seventh, eighth, ninth, thirteenth and fourteenth have all won plenty of races between them subsequently too.

Clearly, that was a very hot contest and Joyeuse could turn out to be top drawer in time, so hopefully she's ready to go after another absence. If she is, she should take the world of beating.

14.05 Ascot - Gemirande @ 5/1

Trainer Venetia Williams has won this 2m5f handicap chase five times since 2013 and all five winners won off the back of an absence. That must bode really well for the chances of her son of Al Namix, GEMIRANDE.

The eight-year-old disappointed first time up last season, but in November 2022 he did finish second on his return at Hereford and given the trainer's record in this contest, she's likely to have him spot on for this assignment.

It took Gemirande a while to get going over fences, but he won a pair of handicaps at around 2m4f last season and he went on to finish third in the Silver Trophy Chase at Cheltenham in April off a mark of 135.

Now down to 128 on his return, just 2lb above his last winning mark, he is certainly well treated if he can show his best.

15.15 Ascot - Laskalin @ 10/1

Another Venetia Williams-trained runner who ought to go well is LASKALIN in the 3m handicap chase. He had a torrid season last term but is nicely handicapped if he's anywhere near his best on his return.

The son of Martaline won fresh at Ludlow in November 2022 off a mark of 128 and is now 10lb lower in the weights.

He comes with risks attached of course, but his poor season last term might be a blessing in disguise now he can ply his trade off a favourable mark. The market will be revealing as to his chances.

Horse Racing Tips, from Betfred Insights.