GOODTOKNOW, trained by Byton trainer Kerry Lee, won the feature staying chase at Hereford races yesterday and the win helps keep horse on target for April’s Grand National at Aintree.

The extended three mile 188Bet Handicap Chase saw eleven runners go to post.

But in heavy ground conditions that tested all participants during the day, it was Goodtoknow in first-time blinkers, ridden by Jake Greenall, who kept on the stronger to record a comfortable seven length success from his stable companion Mountainous.

Delighted Lee said: "It wasn’t the plan to send out first and second but we’ll take the result with a smile as it’s the plan to try and get Goodtoknow into the Grand National as that’s what he was bought for.

"Hopefully he’ll go up 10lbs and get in now."

The runner-up, a previous Welsh Grand National winner, will be targeted at the west country equivalent, the Devon National, at Exeter later this month.

The meeting opened with a progressive win for Yorgonnahermeroar, trained by Abberley trainer Henry Oliver and ridden by James Davies.

A half-brother to good performer Village Vic, the winner was always travelling well for James Davies and once sent to the front approaching the final hurdle quickly went clear to score by an easy seven lengths in the style of an improving performer.

Gavin Sheehan, who has recently returned from injury, was the jockey in form recording a double at the track; firstly for his retained stable of trainer Warren Greatrex aboard Chef D’oeuvre in the Beginners Novice Chase and then for Hanley Swan trainer David Dennis on Final Nudge in the Novices Limited Handicap Chase.

The first hunter chase back at the track since it re-opened went to Toby Lerone, ridden by Sam Davies-Thomas after a battle with the well-backed favourite Simply Wings over the final three fences.

Simply Wings forced the pace on the final circuit under jockey Richard Patrick, but Toby Lerone was always just close enough and Davies-Thomas produced him to lead approaching the final fence where, despite a mistake, the winner kept on well to score by three and a half lengths.

Toby Lerone could also be heading to Aintree in April but for the amateur Foxhunters Chase confirmed assistant trainer Tom Messenger.