Hey Day Baby steps back down in trip for her second handicap start this afternoon in the Class 5 Mares' Handicap Hurdle (15:40) over two miles, three and a half furlongs at Hereford.

Read our Raceday LIVE preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Hey Day Baby's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).

Raceday LIVE Preview

Hey Day Baby takes on a new trip for the first time this afternoon at Hereford, having run over two miles and three miles in her previous races to date.

She was pulled up on severely heavy ground when racing over three miles last time out. She was wearing blinkers for the first time that day too, which trainer Jonjo O'Neill said that he wouldn't have declared her in them if he knew the ground was going to end up so soft. As a result, she went off too quickly in front and unfortunately soon ran out of gas, eventually being pulled up by Jonjo O'Neill Jr after the 8th hurdle.

Jonjo O'Neill Jr reviews Hey Day Baby's run at Southwell last time out

Following her disappointing run at Southwell just over a month ago, she's been dropped 2lbs down to a mark of 74, which means she'll carry just 10st5lb in today's contest.

Kevin Brogan jumps onboard our mare for the first time this afternoon, after she had been ridden by Jonjo O'Neill Jr and Richie McLernon in the past. Today also marks the first time that the club has had a runner at Hereford.

Raceday Update from Jonjo O'Neill

"We head off to Hereford today with Hey Day Baby and we’re looking forward to it. The blinkers stay on her and this is a more favourable field today, so we're hoping for a bit more of a competitive run. She is well, she schooled nicely this week and we come here on a positive note. She will need to buck up her ideas to get involved of course. Fingers crossed for you all."

Owners for the Day and Prize Money

As winners of the Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive prize package for Cave Article's run at Taunton today.

Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Hereford Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Hey Day Baby and the Jonjo O'Neill team, and even enter the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Hey Day Baby.

Today's Class 5 contest is worth £6,150 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,247.81 for their lucky owners.

2nd place: £1,494.44 | 3rd place: £747.23 | 4th place: £373.92 | 5th place: £186.35

Trainer and jockey form

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill has been operating at a fairly solid 15% strike rate over the last two weeks, with his latest winner coming in a Grade 2 Mares' Novices' Chase at Newbury on Saturday with All The Glory.

Jockey Kevin Brogan arrives today after having a fairly quiet few weeks. He's placed twice in the last fortnight, including a decent second place finish onboard Son Of The Somme at Newbury on Saturday for Toby Lawes.

At The Races | VERDICT

A 7lb penalty for Only Fools' 11-length romp at Fontwell shouldn't prevent a bold follow-up bid, but there is a sneaking suspicion that a bigger performance remains from AFTER MANY DAYS. Henry Daly's mare posted a respectable third behind a subsequent winner at Southwell earlier this month and this slight ease in distance may be enough for the five-year-old to open her account. Damask and handicap debutant Charmian's Place also warrant a second look.

Today's opposition

• Only Fools for David Pipe and Jack Tudor arrives having won by a massive eleven lengths two weeks ago, over the same distance that today's race in being contested. She's been given a five star rating from Timeform and heads the early betting, so looks to be the one to beat in the field. 

• Top weight After Many Days finished a solid third on her handicap debut last time out after placing in one of her other six runs to date. Hugh Nugent retains the ride, and claims a valuable three pounds off thh back of Henry Daly's mare.

• Damask is one of the more experienced runners in the field, having raced eleven times in her career before today. She's finished third in her last two outings, the last of which was a three length defeat over course and distance. James Davies rides her for the first time, taking the place of usual jockey Ben Poste who goes to Wincanton instead.

 

   15:40 HEREFORD – LATEST BETTING HERE   

We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 15:40 to watch Hey Day Baby's next run for the club.