Williams: follow the name for winners

Ian Williams is enjoying a 25% strike rate with his chasers presently, and struck again today at far-flung Sedgefield, where six year old Irish-bred Regaby made all to win the splendidly memorable Sprayclad Handicap Chase over 3m3f.

Worthy of greater note was that Ian is now the sixth Williams to score this week following winners on Sunday at Ffos Las for Christian, Evan and Venetia, at Bangor on Wednesday for Nick and Jane, and again today at Taunton for Jane. At this rate, there will be some trainers looking for a name change by deed poll. Nor are we finished yet; Nick, Jane, Venetia and Ian all have entries at Cheltenham, where last year's Paddy Power Gold Cup winner, Colle Cody, is also a Williams runner, for Evan.

Alcester neighbour Olly Murphy has also continued a good week that began when Brewinupastorm won a valuable conditions hurdle at Aintree on Sunday. A subsequent three winners, including Fresh New Dawn in the Racing TV Handicap Chase at Market Rasen today, augur well for a good showing from Murphy-trained contenders at this weekend's Cheltenham fixture.

Mackelduff is well fancied in Sunday's Intermediate Hurdle, and the fact that the five year old is Murphy's only runner through the 3 days may tell its own story.

Meantime, Point-to-Point steeplechasing returns to Worcestershire on Sunday when the Clifton-on-Teme stage the opening fixture in the area at Knightwick. The six race card begins at noon.