14:30 Hereford

Wednesday 25 March 2026

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Hereford Easter Monday Family Raceday Handicap Chase

5YO plus | Class 5 | 2m 4f 194y | 9 Runners | Turf

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Charlie Case⁽⁷⁾| T: David Dennis| OR: 100| D

Veteran who posted a good second at Worcester (2½m, good) in July but not in same form either start thereafter last summer. Switched yards ahead of return to action but his losing run stretches back to July 2022.

Form: 24637R

Chief Black Robe^v1¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 98| D

7/2

Won 4 handicap chases on the bounce for this yard in 2023. Posted much his best effort since rejoining Fergal O'Brien when runner-up at Market Rasen over fences (19.2f, soft) last month but he ran poorly back over hurdles at Taunton 16 days ago. Visor reached for returned to chasing.

Form: 25542P

Line Of Descent^t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 97

11/2

Three-time winner over fences who failed to step up appreciably on his belated reappearance effort last month when finishing a remote second in 5-runner handicap at Doncaster (19f) 4 weeks ago. Mark eased further but he does need to show more before becoming of interest again.

Form: 253/5-62

Lelant¹⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs C Williams| OR: 93| CD

5/2

Well on top finish when finally off the mark over C&D in October and made light of an 8 lb rise when following up at Market Rasen (21f) a month later. Had soft ground as a possible excuse for his Fontwell disappointment in December and better showing anticipated having been freshened up since.

Form: F36-11P

Warner's Cross^p1¹¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr R Sugrue⁽⁷⁾| T: C Hobson| OR: 87| DWS

25/1

Built on earlier promise to belatedly get off the mark at Market Rasen in June 2024 and continued in good heart when second on chase debut there next time. However, low-key efforts in 2 hurdle runs since returning from a lengthy absence this winter. Had breathing operation and cheekpieces now on.

Form: 3412-6P

Black Occ¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 85

6/1

Modest maiden hurdler who showed nothing sent chasing in first time cheekpieces at Ludlow (2½m) on penultimate start but he did at least stop the slide when third over hurdles here (25.5f) 18 days ago. Return to shorter a plus on that evidence but not the easiest to weigh up.

Form: 475/PP3

Boys Of Wexford^p¹⁰⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 78

7/1

Posted best effort for some time under positive tactics when second at Fontwell (19.5f) in November. Unseated next time and absent following a poor effort (pulled up) over C&D in December. However, no great surprise to see him bounce back following a break.

Form: 5-P52UP

Ultra Viers^t,p¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Luke Scott⁽³⁾| T: P Taylor| OR: 74

7/1

Remains a maiden after 23 runs but in process of running creditably when falling last on return at Market Rasen in November. Excuses at Lingfield next time but below best following a 3-month layoff when fourth at Leicester (2½m) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 44-4F54

Jack Doyen^b¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: J M Quinlan| T: B I Case| OR: 73| CD

8/1

Made the frame all 4 starts last season but has struggled in handful of outings this term and whilst he produced his best effort for a while when third at Leicester (2½m) 3 weeks ago, that didn't make him of interest for win purposes here.

Form: 3-F6P53

Forecasts

Lelant (10/3), Chief Black Robe (4/1), Black Occ (11/2), Boys Of Wexford (6/1), Line Of Descent (6/1), Jack Doyen (8/1), Ultra Viers (10/1), Warner's Cross (12/1), Fat Sam (25/1)

A ready winner of back-to-back handicap chase contests upon returning this winter (including over C&D) LELANT had excuses on account of the soft ground when pulled up at Fontwell in December. Freshened up and now returning to a sounder surface, he could be worth siding with to get back on track. Chief Black Robe needs to shrug off a lesser run over hurdles but is a player if doing so, whilst Fat Sam and Boys of Wexford also command a second look.