THE latest column by Hereford Racecourse's Rebecca Davies

Before Christmas, trainer Colin Tizzard ran Finian’s Oscar, a horse he trains for Ann and Alan Potts, at Hereford for its first run in England.

The horse was reputably bought for £250,000 last year so a big run was expected.

His emphatic victory had the racecourse buzzing on Christmas Jumper Raceday and it was wonderful to see us playing host to what appeared to be a very special horse.

Last weekend, Finian’s Oscar followed up his Hereford victory with a win in Sandown Park’s Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle in equally convincing style.

That race was far more competitive and a higher quality than at Hereford and the horse is now favourite for one of the races at Cheltenham in March.

To see that type of horse running at Hereford and going on to greater things is wonderful, and hopefully proves what a great track it is for stars of the future.

Post the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals in the spring, it will be interesting to track back the winners and where they ran during the season’s campaign and I hope Hereford will have played its part in the pyramid of jump racing.

The New Year sees a busy fixture list for Hereford and our next fixture is Sunday, January 22.

It will be the first weekend fixture since the racecourse’s reopening in October and we are hopeful for a busy day.

Themed 'Winter Ladies Day', there will be prizes for the best dressed competition and we are running a fun Prosecco package in advance, which is two admission tickets and a bottle of Prosecco for just £39.99.

This is open to anyone and is a great way to come racing with a friend and enjoy a bottle of bubbles in your glad rags.

We will shortly be announcing the date for our Champions Cheltenham Festival preview evening.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls and champion jockey Richard Johnson will be joined by Cornelius Lysaght from BBC Radio 5 Live previewing the Festival races and leading contenders.

It promises to be an informative evening and I hope many of Hereford Times’ readers will join us, and throughout the year for racing and other events.