17:05 Hereford Tips — Monday 6th April 2026

For the 17:05 Hereford bumper, I'm confidently siding with **PLAN DE STAN (EVS)** to get off the mark. This Tom Symonds-trained gelding showed plenty of promise on debut when finishing second, and it’s a well-known trend that horses with a run under their belt, especially those finishing in the frame, often improve dramatically second time out in National Hunt Flat races. That experience will be invaluable here, giving him a distinct advantage over many of today’s debutants.

He put in a solid effort on good ground last time, suggesting today’s conditions will be ideal. With Ben Poste in the plate again, the partnership looks solid, and the strong market confidence, with him at Evens, speaks volumes. The connections clearly feel he’s progressed significantly, and I expect him to take a massive step forward and prove very hard to beat against a field of often unexposed rivals. He looks the one to beat.

For those looking for a bit more value, **CRYSTAL JET** could be worth an each-way flutter. He’s an interesting debutant who could be on the premises if showing some ability first time out, offering some potential for an upset or a place.