Experts at Racing Post have previewed Saturday afternoon's Christmas Jumper Meeting at Hereford, providing top tips, stats and insight ahead of the track’s biggest day of the year.
A highly competitive card is on offer - featuring seven national hunt races - the highlight of which is the 1:10pm, the Appliance Solutions Ledbury Mares' Handicap Chase (Hereford Mares' Chase Series Final), with a huge £21,665 prize for first place, supported by a similarly valuable handicap hurdle at 2.20 where winning connections will take home over £17,000.
In-form trainers including Venetia Williams & Fergal O’Brien are represented by several live chances, while Cheltenham Festival winning rider Bryony Frost is one of the star jockeys on show.
Going: SOFT, Heavy in places
12:00 Marstons Beer Company Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase Cl4 (4yo+ 0-120) 3m1f
2/1 Benechenko, 5/2 One Style, 5/1 Misty Mai, 6/1 Fact Flow, 8/1 Lord In Red, 10/1 Pembroke House, 33/1 Noruki.
Benechenko is feared but ONE STYLE is well handicapped and returns from a long absence with his yard going well.
12:35 Santa's Mini Racers Novices' Hurdle Cl4 (4yo+) 2m3½f
7/4 Shantou Vow, 15/8 Elleon, 7/2 Funambule Sivola, 14/1 Normandy Soldier, 20/1 Eau Top, Escrime D'Art, 25/1 Loco Coco, 33/1 Butler's Brief, Full Of Roque, Little Ginge, 50/1 Bobmahley, Miss Jeanne Moon, 66/1 Enry Iggins, Sabbathical, Upton Encore, 100/1 Evenstevens.
Not that a deep race and SHANTOU VOW did it nicely enough at Southwell to believe he can defy a penalty.
1:10 Appliance Solutions Ledbury Mares' Handicap Chase (Hereford Mares' Chase Series Final) Cl2 (4yo+) 3m1f
4/1 Heavenly Promise, 5/1 Longhousesignora, Silent Steps, 6/1 Still Believing, 13/2 Stupid Cupid, 7/1 Top And Drop, 10/1 Stream Lady, 14/1 Annie Bonny, In Arrears, Royal Claret.
An open renewal of this final. LONGHOUSESIGNORA (nap) is well handicapped and could be interesting with blinkers turned to.
1:45 Courage Directors Bitter Novices' Chase Cl3 (4yo+) 2m
2/5 First Flow, 4/1 Coole Well, 11/2 Haldon Hill, 66/1 Tinctoria.
The one to beat is Grade 2 hurdle winner FIRST FLOW, who ran very creditably behind smart rivals in two novice chases last month.
2:20 Hoover Appliances Handicap Hurdle Cl2 (3yo+ 0-150) 2m3½f
7/4 Air Horse One, 3/1 Ballyellis, 7/2 Fally Jem, 4/1 Burrows Park, 10/1 Limited Reserve.
Venetia Williams has solid claims with Burrows Park but her new French recruit FALLY JEM could be a lively one.
2:55 Green Dragon Hotel Handicap Hurdle Cl4 (3yo+ 0-115) 3m1½f
3/1 North Star Oscar, 7/1 Master Tradesman, 8/1 Call Me Sid, Volcano, 10/1 Buster Edwards, Landofsmiles, 12/1 Another Frontier, Late Shipment, Our Rockstar, 14/1 Jully Les Buxy, Little Boy Boru, Steel Native, 20/1 Cottonvale, 33/1 The Wallace Line.
A chance is taken on MASTER TRADESMAN, in the hope he can build on his latest return to form at this track.
3:30 BMWi Christmas Lights "Junior" Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race Cl5 (3yo) 2m
7/4 Full Spes, 7/2 The Mick Preston, 4/1 The Furrows End, 5/1 Vulcan Bomber, 10/1 Hollow Gold, 14/1 Innerpickle, 33/1 Midnight Wave.
Warren Greatrex has a very good strike-rate in bumpers and his newcomer FULL SPES might be the answer.
Top jockeys at Hereford this season
Jockey – wins/rides - % win rate – level stakes profit*
Ben Jones 5-8 63 +13.12
Dave Crosse 2-3 67 +28.00
Edward Austin 2-3 67 +42.00
Richard Johnson 2-7 29 -1.62
James Best 1-1 100 +6.00
Top trainers at Hereford this season
Jockey – wins/runs - % win rate – level stakes profit*
Philip Hobbs 2-3 67 +2.37
Dan Skelton 2-5 40 +3.00
Grace Harris 2-6 33 +2.75
Neil Mulholland 2-6 33 +3.87
Archie Watson 1-1 100 +1.10
*profit if backing every horse this season with a £1 stake
Travellers check
Little Boy Boru Suzy Smith 2:55 168
Landofsmiles Peter Bowen 2:55 114
Misty Mai David Rees 12:00 109
Steel Native David Rees 2:55 109
Innerpickle Nigel Hawke 3:30 99
Horses brought from furthest distance to race at Hereford today.
For all results & racecards check Racing Post.
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