Great Leighs finally opens!

After numerous delays, the new all-weather racecourse at Great Leighs in Essex finally opens its doors today, the first new track in the U.K. since Taunton (1927). The public will not be allowed in today, with attendance restricted to professionals, the media and invited guests, but it is hoped that there will be enough bookmakers (a minimum of 3 is required) to return starting prices. Many of the leading trainers and jockeys - including champions Jamie Spencer and Seb Sanders - will be in action to give the track a good start. There are small fields for the two featured events, a 2 mile handicap at 16.15 CET and a 10 furloongs handicap at 17.20, but that may be no disadvantage. The former event sees super-consistent Calculating (Mark Usher/ Hayley Turner) renew rivalry with Buster Hyvonen (James Fanshawe/ Jamie Spencer), but top-weight Velvet Heights (John Dunlop/ Seb Sanders) can possibly outtrump them both. The 10 furlongs race should concern mainly Rayhani (Marcis Tregoning/ Martin Dwyer) and bottom weight Escape Route (John Gosden/ Jimmy Fortune), but Mark Johnston´s Luberon (Joe Fanning), very unreliable last year, could be dangerous if in the right mood.