Bumper entries for first meeting at the track in four years

The return of jumps racing to Hereford was virtually within touching distance on Friday when the first meeting at the track in nearly four years attracted a bumper 136 entries.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson and Alan King, plus the local yards of Michael Scudamore, Tom Symonds and Kerry Lee, were among those to make entries for Thursday's reopening, when the first fixture will be staged since the course was closed by Arena Racing Company in December 2012.

Nicholls has included 2015 Fred Winter Hurdle winner Qualando, who could have his first start over fences in the beginners' chase, among six entrants.