The 2007 flat racing season at Great Yarmouth started in front of an enthusiastic Bank Holiday crowd.And the punters gave the bookmakers a tough time, with well-fancied horses winning a number of the races.

The 2007 flat racing season at Great Yarmouth started yesterday in front of an enthusiastic Bank Holiday crowd.

And the punters gave the bookmakers a tough time, with well-fancied horses winning a number of the races.

The 5-2 joint favourite Provost, from the stables of in-form trainer Mark Johnston in Yorkshire, looked a class act when winning the opening toteplacepot Maiden Stakes over a straight mile.

Charlie Delta (5-2) was the well-tipped winner of the totecourse To Course Claiming Stakes under jockey Martin Dwyer who was enjoying his first winner at the Norfolk racecourse for four years.

The 5-2 favourite Royal Fantasy, trained in Newmarket by James Fanshawe, snatched victory on the line in the totesport.com Fillies' Handicap under 2005 champion jockey Jamie Spencer.

There was some respite for the layers in the fourth race when 16-1 chance High Ambition made his Flat racing debut on turf a winning one in the tote Text Betting 60021 Handicap under jockey Seb Sanders.

Jamie Spencer was back in the winner's enclosure after driving out the 6-4 market leader Pigeon Flight to take the toteexacta Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

However, the jockey was banned for one day by the racecourse stewards for careless riding.

There was drama before the start of the closing totesportcasino.com Handicap when the favourite, Le Soleil, was withdrawn on veterinary advice. In the race, Seb Sanders produced Royal Premier (15-2) to win for his second victory of the afternoon.

The next fixture at Great Yarmouth is on the evening of Thursday, April 26.