Hereford best bets (1440): El Granjero to prove his class as My Monty looks to defy each-way odds

14:40 Hereford: Best Odds Guaranteed at PlanetSportBet NH Maiden Hurdle (2 miles 3½ furlongs)

Not many of these have much form to go on, but the stand-out performer is the clear early favourite El Granjero, who won on his only point-to-point start, and has finished runner-up on his three hurdling efforts, most recently beaten by just a neck over this course and distance 18 days ago.

Planet Sport Bet Daily Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if the favourite wins, get a £5 Free Bet

He should go well again here under Richard Patrick, but can expect a strong challenge from Stay If U Want To, who has been showing progress for the O’Neill yard. The five-year-old won his third bumper outing and then shaped up nicely over obstacles when coming second of 12 on his hurdle debut at Catterick a month ago.

The only other horse commanding a single-digit price is Wee Tony from the in-form yard of Ben Pauling, and after showing some promise in bumpers (fourth of 11 and second of 15), he was far from disgraced when coming fifth of 13 last time out in his second attempt over obstacles.

Suggested best bet: El Granjero in the 14:40 at Hereford

• Tip advised by Seventh Heaven Horse Racing on Tipstrr

Elsewhere, it’s hard to make a case for any of the seven runners priced at 40/1+, although the booking of Charlie Deutsch increases the each-way value of My Monty at a still tasty 14/1. 

The James Evans-trained gelding had shown some promise when finishing third of nine over a longer trip at this venue in January before coming a more distant seventh of 13 in the same race as El Granjero over this course and distance 18 days ago.

He would need to bounce back from that performance and hope that at least one of the principals falter, but Deutsch’s presence is interesting and could help the seven-year-old defy his hefty odds.

Each-way punt: My Monty in the 14:40 at Hereford

• Tip advised by Elite Horse Tips on Tipstrr

READ MORE: Hereford racing tips: Best bets for Wednesday March 27