Epsom back in the swing

Epsom is all set to open its doors tomorrow for the first time since the 2008 Derby meeting.

The course has undergone a £37m (€41m) redevelopment since last June that includes a hotel and a new grandstand.

“The course looks fantastic, I’m very pleased with its condition,” said clerk of the course Andrew Cooper.

“I think we’ll call the five-furlong course good and leave the round course, the Derby course, good, good to soft in places.

“We had a bit of rain last week, about 20mm fell over Thursday and Friday but we probably needed it, it just meant we didn’t have to water.

“It’s been dry since then and it is drying slowly.

“We are looking forward to it, it’s been a long time since the Derby but we are looking forward to the season as a whole.

“We’ve got the new grandstand opening and we’ll have a full season of racing, 14 fixtures.

“I’m also pleased with the Derby trial field, we expect it to be single figures but there looks to be more strength in depth this year.”