Bumper crowd expected for New Year’s Eve fixture at Warwick

The meeting is the fourth of 15 scheduled for the 2014/15 season, which runs from October to May.

In addition to the seven races, there will be free entertainment for children with a party bus, balloon modeller and magician wandering through the crowd.

The highlight of the card will be the fourth, the racinguk.com Handicap Chase (The Jockey Club Grassroots Jumps Series Qualifier) over three miles and half a furlong. With every runner qualifying for next year’s final, this could be a competitive contest.

This is the second heat to be run at Warwick, with 9-4 favourite It’s A Steal having triumphed at the last meeting over the shorter distance of two-and-a-half miles.

Gates open two hours before the first race at 10.50am and, after the final contest at 3.50pm, there will be live music from Never Mind the Jukebox in the Paddock Pavilion.

General manager Huw Williams said: “Our New Year’s Eve fixture is always a fantastic end to the year but, this time, it promises to be an even more memorable occasion as it marks the advent of our first full year of jump racing.

“We are incredibly excited about our plans to transform Warwick into one of the leading small jump-only courses in the country and we look forward to welcoming a bumper crowd to join us to see in this new era.”

The Kingmaker and 1707 Restaurants were sold out in November but entry to the course can still be bought, with advance tickets starting from £18 per person (£20 on the day) and free admission for accompanied children under the age of 18.

The celebration package in the Paddock Pavilion, which includes admission, a two-course hot buffet and table for the day, is available from £55 per person.

All ticket and advance booking information is available at www.warwick.thejockeyclub.co.uk