Plumpton Racecourse’s new season gets underway with a Sunday card, writes Charlie Day.

Their opening fixture is a family race day with something for everyone.

In addition to racing, food and drink and entertainment, there will be an interactive dinosaur show and dinosaur walkabouts prior to racing as well as face painting and a 90ft obstacle course.

There’s also a dog show throughout the afternoon with different categories and lots of prizes on offer.

On the track the action comes thick and fast with the opener a 2m1½f juvenile hurdle followed by a 2m3½f novices’ handicap chase, then a handicap hurdle over 2m4½f. The fourth race is the feature, a 2m handicap hurdle.

Then there’s another handicap chase, this time over 2m1f before a 2m1½f bumper rounds off the six-race card.

Several notable entries have been made.

With the top trainer at the track over the last five seasons, Gary Moore, entering a total of four horses.

Perhaps the most notable of those being the Harry Redknapp owned Icare Grandchamp who’s been entered in both the 2m4½f handicap hurdle and the 2m1f handicap chase.

The feature race, the 2m handicap hurdle sees twelve entries, including course and distance scorers Get Back Get Back and Alien Storm, for the Harry Fry and Charlie Longsdon yards respectively.

While Milton Harris and David Pipe each have two entries in the race too. Look out for Nicky Henderson’s Easy Peasy who’s been entered in the concluding bumper, she’s a filly who’s only run once before, winning a race in Ireland, before making the move to Henderson’s Seven Barrows Stables in Hungerford.

Local trainers Nick Gifford and Sheena West have entered four runners between them, both will be looking for further success throughout the season. However, Sussex based trainers are not the only ones who will be looking for success.

Nigel Hawke has entered four runners across the card and may make the trip from his training base in Tiverton, Devon. Gloucestershire trainers Fergal O’Brien and Martin Keighley have also entered runners making for what looks a highly competitive day of racing.

The wealth of entries from far and wide only serves to further highlight the importance and popularity Plumpton continues to garner from trainers all over the country.

Great effort has been made to cater to all racegoers. There are several dining options on offer too. The day is going to be focused on providing families with a memorable experience and children have free admittance when accompanied by an adult.

Those wishing to book for the race day can do so online via the website where they will also find details to contact the course directly.