FAKENHAM Racecourse is gearing up for another bumper Easter Monday crowd as it prepares to host its biggest day of the year.

The seven-race meeting gets underway at 2.05pm, with the highlight of the day being the �10,000 David Keith Memorial Handicap Steeplechase. The two-mile, five-and-half furlong race is under starter’s orders at 3.50pm.

Clerk of the course at Fakenham, David Hunter, said: “As well as being our biggest race day of the year, it is always a family and social event.

“We are very pleased with the numbers and the quality of horses who have entered and we have two amateur races on the day which have also attracted a good number of entries.”

In one of those amateur races, Marky Bob will be looking to repeat his victory last time out at Fakenham, when he roared home by a massive winning margin of 86 lengths.

Despite the hosepipe ban, the ground at Fakenham will be safe to run as the racecourse has a licence to draw water from a borehole. Hosepipes can still be used on the day to ensure the horses are kept cool after races and have drinking water.

Hunter urged spectators to arrive early to avoid queues, as a large crowd is expected.

For more details, visit www.fakenhamracecourse.co.uk