Fontwell's 2012 programme is under starter's orders today

The seven-card race also sees new manager Holly Glover – whose appointment was revealed in the Observer last week – make her race day bow as boss.

Today’s racing begins at 1.05pm with the Docker Hughes Memorial Novices’ Handicap Hurdle – an annual race named in memory of a famous Pompey fan who stood for parliament in the 1980s.

The card concludes at 4.05pm with the digibet.com Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

There is an excellent number of entries across the card with some big fields likely.

The Racing Post reports that the going is soft, good to soft in places and it’s been dry for the past 24 hours. Today’s forecast is dry with sunny spells and a breeze.

OUR FONTWELL TIPS FOR TODAY: 105 Johnny Owen, 135 Sherwani Wolf, 205 Bold Chief, 235 Pocket Aces, 305 Oscar Charlie, 335 Guydus, 405 Waterunder.

Fontwell are hoping for some decent-sized crowds to mark a new year after reducing some of their prices.

The cost of annual membership has been reduced to £199 and bosses have also reduced admission prices for 18 out of the 24 fixtures for the year.

If you book in advance for these you can get a Grandstand and Paddock Enclosure ticket for £10. The same price last year was £13 for most.

Details of prices are available on 01243 543335.

Congratulations to Pam Musgrave from Bosham, who has won a pair of annual Fontwell Park badges in our recent competition. We’ll be giving away another pair of annual passes soon.

In next week’s Observer, we’ll have a feature on new general manager Holly Glover.