Hereford Racecourse hosts a seven-race National Hunt card on Wednesday, February 11 – we preview every race.
56 horses are declared to run, across four class four contests and three class fives.
The going is heavy, soft in places, with up to 7mm of rain forecast ahead of racing.
Racing gets underway at 13:30, with the final race due off at 16:33.
preview: race-by-race at hereford on wednesday february 11 with selections
13:30 – hereford easter monday family raceday fillies’ juvenile maiden hurdle
Racing gets underway with this two-mile, class four, fillies’ hurdle – nine runners are declared.
It’s not often you see the silks of owner Kenny Alexander at Hereford, but Tristan Durrell will be sporting those in the opener.
The Dan Skelton-trained Whitletts is the even-money favourite to score here.
With a third at Warwick, and second at Ludlow at the back end of last year, she’ll be hoping to improve again and make it third-time-lucky.
The Procrastinator won a National Hunt Flat race on soft ground in November, and finished a six-length sixth at Ludlow last month.
Luke Scott claims three pounds on her hurdle debut for Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole.
Annie’s Angel joins Ado McGuinness from Joseph O’Brien following some decent efforts on the flat – including on slow ground.
She can build on her remote sixth in a tough maiden at Thurles on hurdles debut to snatch this prize for Ireland.
Selection – Annie’s angel 4/1
14:00 – silvershine turf services maiden hurdle
Next is a three-mile, one-and-a-half-furlong, class four maiden hurdle with just three runners.
The O’Neill family team up with 2/5-favourite, Seaniecon, who finished second at Ludlow on rules debut last month.
Prior to that, the five-year-old finished runner-up and then went one better in two point-to-point appearances.
He’s untested on slower than good-to-soft and the value may lay with the Rebecca Curtis-trained Douglas Hyde.
At six years old, he’s had six races under rules – finishing in the frame in each of them – as well as winning a point on heavy ground.
Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch have been enduring a tough season and Bresiliant doesn’t look likely to change their fortunes here.
However, when on song, Williams’ horses don’t mind the soft ground and this is a three-runner race.
Selection – douglas hyde 13/8
14:30 – spa motors hereford novices’ handicap chase
This class five, three-mile, one-furlong handicap chase for novices’ sees six runners go to post.
Favourite for this is Kaviar Wood, for Evan Williams and Conor Ring.
The 6/4-shot ran well in points and should appreciate this switch to his chase debut.
Hardy Buck will carry just 10st 5lbs, with Freddie Mitchell’s three-pound claim, which will come in handy in these testing conditions.
The eight-year-old ran well in defeat on soft ground at Huntingdon and has a chase mark seven pounds lower than hurdles.
Seasmoke will carry top-weight, but looks to be a consistent type since switching to chasing.
Subtle Fortune, The Moonlight Man and Johnny Boy complete the field.
selection – seasmoke 11/4
15:00 – blackmore building contractors novices’ hurdle
Fourteen runners are declared for the two-mile, class four novices’ hurdle.
Local trainer, Tom Symonds saddles the 11/10F Glancing Jack, who won a bumper at Hereford on debut.
The five-year-old, partnered by Ben Poste, has chalked up a decent second here over course-and-distance, and obviously enjoys the track.
Despite falling at Windsor last time, Lou And Shaz won well on stable debut for Kayley Woollacott at Wincanton.
She also put some fair efforts in for Gavin Cromwell, over in Ireland, and looks to be the main challenger in this.
Superkap makes his British debut for Venetia Williams, following a couple of decent efforts in France.
Carrying just 10st 5lbs and with form on very soft ground, he’s a runner of serious interest.
Another of interest is Kerry Lee’s Kingdom Of Stars, who may have just had a bad day last time and has shown he is capable on the flat.
selection – Superkap 11/2
15:30 – hereford ladies day saturday 7th march mares’ handicap hurdle
Fifth on the racecard is a class five, two-mile, five-and-a-half-furlong mares’ handicap hurdle with six runners.
Springtime Legend is another short-priced favourite on the card, this time at 6/5, for Neil Mulholland.
The six-year-old is eased in class and has ran creditably on heavy ground.
Shesupincourt’s mark has continued to fall and her best form has come on soft-to-heavy ground.
Parikarma returns from a long lay-off for this, but seems to be on a decent mark and could go well on debut for Samuel Drinkwater.
Lydeard Girl is trying a markedly longer trip on softer ground for Kayley Woollacott on handicap debut.
selection – shesupincourt 15/4
16:00 – richard layton charity raceday 16th april handicap chase
The penultimate contest of the afternoon sees ten runners compete for the two-mile, five-furlong, class five handicap chase.
Benignitas ran a bog race on heavy ground at Ffos Las last time, finishing second, and can go one better if a 12-day lay-off is enough of a rest.
Everyonesacritic and Kingcormac battled it out in this last year, with the former coming out on top by two lengths.
Kingcormac has managed two wins here besides and will give Evan Williams’ runner a real race, looking for revenge.
Both act on heavy ground, but Everyonesacritic gets the nod, having dropped to below a winning mark and having a 6lb pull on his rival.
selection – Everyonesacritic 5/1
16:33 – green dragon hotel hereford handicap hurdle
Closing the meeting, eight runners take on the class four, two-mile, three-and-a-half-furlong handicap hurdle.
King Jon Oliver has ran well in both hurdle starts, finishing second in Tipperary before switching to Olly Murphy and going one better.
Lucky Bere looks set to relish the conditions here, having won multiple times on soft and heavy ground.
Kel Du Large is another heavy-ground winner, who won a listed bumper in 2024 and a two-mile hurdle here.
Bingoo is yet another with heavy ground form and seems to have returned to form on stable debut, in December.
Canty Bay is back to a winning mark and should come on for his Lingfield run.
Don Rafael and Oakley are both course-and-distance winners and cannot be discounted back here.
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