Venetia Williams’ emergence from the doldrums continued apace at Ludlow this afternoon with a steeplechase treble from her 3 runners, in the latest indication that her bleak mid-winter may have come to a close just in time for the key Spring festivals.

For a stable well used to banging in between 40 – 60 winners and recouping over £1m in prize money each season, this has, to date, been a season to forget, with just 11 winners before the start of February, and virtually nothing in the way of high profile winners.

Only Djelo, victor of the Grade II Peterborough Chase, and the evergreen veterans L’Homme Pressé and Royal Pagaille, neither of whom have quite found the winners’ spot, has kept the stable in the public eye.

Until perhaps now.

Holetown got the ball rolling with a 1 1/4l triumph over Georgi Girl in the third, the 2m 4f Meadows & Hynes Mares Handicap Chase. The 6 year old French-bred was enjoying a first success this side of the Channel, her last winning outing at Compiegne in April 2024 for Sylvain Dehez. She was the first leg of a double for stable jockey Charlie Deutsch. A perfect opportunity for winning owners, the Large G & T Partnership to put their nomenclature into practice.

Stable amateur Lucy Turner was aboard another French-bred, Bucksy des Epeires in the feature Prince of Wales Handicap Chase for amateur riders next up. Never far from the lead, Turner joined issue two out but only reeled in Huw Edwards on Jacks Parrot close to home to score a length. More frequently seen between the flags, this was Turner’s third winner from 15 rides under Rules this season, and she clearly has the trust of punters who sent her off at a short 11/4 to beat the jolly.

An hour’s respite before the Williams-Deutsch team were back in play with Falco des Pins, who did just enough to fend off Count Adhemar a neck in the Farm & Garden Machinery Overgrown Hedges Novices Handicap Chase.

But if the Ross-on-Wye maestro thinks it’s all going to be plain sailing henceforth, she may have to think again.

Barely a fixture goes past at Ludlow without a winner for the Twiston-Davies clan, and February will not be the exception. Sir Hobnob took the biscuit in regaining the lead from the Nicky Henderson – trained Diamonds Galore in the 2m Michael Lumsden Memorial Handicap Hurdle, a half length the winning distance.

One time Championship rivals Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton were both among the winners too,  Nicholls in the opening maiden hurdle with Doctor On Call, a somewhat bloodless 4 1/4l victory over 2 rivals under Dylan Johnston, whilst Skelton stretched his lead at the head of the Trainers’ Championship with winner 146, as MisterDoc scored a competent 2l win over dartmouth Castle in the NH Novices Hurdle to take the stable’s prize haul past £3.62m. Surely a first championship must be in the bag even with a good Cheltenham for Messrs Mullins and Nicholls.

As the gloom of a largely sunless February returned to close the card, Warren Greatrex advertised his claims with a 4 1/2l win by the Harry Bannister-ridden Manigod in the Suzuki King Quad Handicap Hurdle over 2m5f. He can win again at this level.