Venetia Williams: an enigmatic woman who trains winners

Welsh Grand National day at Chepstow could not have had a better climax than the big race. After slogging three miles four furlongs on heavy, clinging ground, three horses came to the last with a chance: leading was the Irish-trained Glenquest ridden by Peter Buchanan, in second was Benvolio ridden for Paul Nicholls by Sam Twiston-Davies and third, at that point, his chance seemingly gone when the other two had passed him two out, was Emperor’s Choice ridden for Venetia Williams by Aidan Coleman. The crowd were on tiptoe roaring all three home as first Benvolio battled past a tiring Glenquest and then Coleman somehow galvanised Emperor’s Choice into one final heave, which took him past Benvolio to snatch victory by a head in the photo-finish.

Typifying jump racing’s nature, Aidan and Sam held hands for several strides after the line: the two good friends had contested every stride to the finish with the last sinew in their bodies, but each was ready from the moment the post was passed to give praise to the winner. No excuses, no whingeing, no handbag-swinging in this arena, just plain straightforward sportsmanship.

Venetia Williams is something of an enigma. Although often eye-catchingly dressed and always polite, she is cool and reserved in her demeanour. On this occasion, however, she was happy to wear her heart on her sleeve. In fact, I have rarely seen her so excited as when she came to greet her gutsy winner, who had led for much of the race and then come again at the death. She and the owners had had a box in the gods and she admitted that they had been cheering on Emperor’s Choice so loudly they could have been heard the other side of the Severn.