THE 2008/9 National Hunt racing season might be over at Hereford Racecourse, but it won’t be long until the 2009/10 campaign is under way.

The ‘year’ officially ends at Sandown Park Racecourse a week on Saturday, and we’re back racing again at Hereford five days later on the last day of the month.

Thursday, April 30 is the fourth annual Wye Valley Brewery raceday.

It’s quickly become a most popular day with licensee customers of the brewery.

The feature race is the £15,000 Barrels Hereford Handicap Chase which is run over the minimum distance of two miles.

It’s the Scottish Grand National this weekend, but Venetia Williams won’t be going for a famous double after the triumph at Aintree. Indeed, there is no Herefordshire training interest in the race on the west coast at Ayr.

The next major race outing from the King’s Caple yard could come in the climax to the jumping season in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in Esher – the race once known as ‘The Whitbread’. Pretty Star is 50-1 with the bookmakers.

While the stables didn’t have a winner at Hereford Racecourse’s final fixture of 2008/9, we were delighted – as were all our visitors – with the appearance and parade of Grand National hero Mon Mome.

Local trainers didn’t miss out entirely though, with Richard Lee sending out Battlefield to win the Freebets.co.uk Free Betting Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Liam Treadwell was with us too, and he has since had another winner, Russian Around at the Easter Monday fixture at our sister racecourse at Chepstow.

l The first race at Hereford Racecourse on Thursday, April 30 is scheduled for 2.20pm. There are seven races, concluding with a hunters’ chase. Gates open just after midday. Grandstand admission is £14. Accompanied children aged under 16 enter free of charge. More information can be found on web site www.hereford-racecourse.co.uk or by telephoning the racecourse on 01432 273560.