It might lack the notoriety of Aintree, or the kudos of the Cheltenham Festival, but Plumpton Racecourse is under starter’s orders for a special day.

The quaint East Sussex track stages a two-day Easter meeting with a difference this year.

Not one but two big races on the opening day tomorrow. The seven-race card is consequently the most valuable in Plumpton’s history, with almost £80,000 in prize money on offer.

Racecourse chiefs have the elements to thank, although it would not have felt that way when the rain lashed down in early January and the first meeting of 2016 had to be abandoned.

The Sussex National, Plumpton’s answer to the world renowned Liverpool version next month, was a victim. It has been rearranged for 5.10pm tomorrow, 70 minutes after the Sussex Champion Hurdle, the county’s version of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last week.

The Sussex National is run over three miles and four furlongs, a mile less than the Aintree spectacular on April 9 in which Albion chairman Tony Bloom has a runner, 100-1 outsider Aachen.

The obstacles are not quite so daunting either but Plumpton’s left-handed undulations and the uphill finish still turn it into a slog for horse and jockey.

An anticipated record crowd could be cheering home a local winner for the third time in four years.

Horsham-based Gary Moore has made a habit of landing the prize. He won it in 2013 with Well Refreshed and again in 2014 with stout stayer Reblis. Moore’s bid to complete the hat-trick was foiled last year when Reblis was beaten into third by Itoldyou, trained by Linda Jewell in Kent.

Jewell is hoping to shine again with Itoldyou. The ten-year-old chestnut gelding has three pounds less to carry than when Tom Cannon rode him to a surprise 11-1 victory last year.

Itoldyou is not in the same form as he was then. He has been nearer last than first in three of his last four races and finished seventh of eight last time out at Fontwell last month.

Moore’s challenger this time is previous course winner Golanova, the mount of son Joshua. Third last time out at Fontwell under a big weight, he looks sure to run a big race.

Top weight Saroque, placed in four of his last five races, is trained by Venetia Williams, who also looks after Bloom’s Grand National hope Aachen.

He has the assistance of leading Sussex jockey Liam Treadwell but has to concede more than two stone to bottom weight and dual winner Coolking, trained by Chris Gordon at Winchester.

Krackatoa King, trained by Noel Williams, will be a danger to them all if the forecast wet weather arrives and the eight-year-old repeats the form he showed running a close third over a marathon trip at Warwick earlier this month.

Top trainer Paul Nicholls is double-handed as he attempts to win the Sussex Champion Hurdle for the second year running.

He won it last year with Dormello Mo, beating Moore’s Ryeolliean into second. Dormello, primed for a repeat, has to give weight away all-round, including to Nicholls’ other runner and likely favourite Vicenzo Mio.

Moore tries to go one better this year with the German bred Darebin, down the field in a warm-up on the flat at Kempton last month and third of five on his last outing over jumps at Huntingdon in January.

Nicholls and Moore could both be thwarted by the John Ferguson-trained juvenile Berland, who won at Catterick in December and chased home a reliable yardstick in St Saviour on his most recent run.

Between races ‘Ask the Expert’ sessions take place, with analysis from ex-jockey Colin Brown who famously rode Gold Cup winning grey Desert Orchid.

Gates open at 11am on both days and entry is free for accompanied under-18s. Visit plumptonracecourse.co.uk for details, tel: 01273 890383.