HEREFORD Racecourse are looking forward to one of their biggest afternoons of the year with the usual array of interesting fashions on show when they stage their Christmas Jumper Raceday on Saturday.

"We only have two Saturdays of racing in the year, this one and our Ladies' Day on March 9 so those days are very important to us for attracting a diverse crowd and some different people who are not able to take time off work to come to the midweek meetings," said Hereford Racecourse's chief executive Rebecca Davies.

"It is important for our profiling in the local community and within the racing industry.

"When we relaunched in 2016, we decided to call this day our Christmas Jumper Raceday and it has really taken off.

"There are plenty of prizes to be had, donated by Westons Cider, and for the young racegoers who really make an effort, there is a prize of a hamper for the best children's jumper.

"There could be a little rain on Saturday but it's not going to be a washout, all of our hospitality is sold out and ticket sales are ahead of where they were last year.

"This is our biggest day of the year."

There are seven races on the card starting at 12 noon with the last due off at 3.30 and, while declarations will not be made until the day before, there are entries listed from local trainers Michael Scudamore, Tom Symonds and Venetia Williams as well as the likes of Jonjo O'Neill, David Pipe, Nicky Henderson and Kim Bailey.

"The ground is holding up well," confirmed Rebecca Davies. "It's soft and good-to-soft in places but there is no risk to the meeting."