Fakenham Racecourse hosts its last National Hunt race meeting of the current season on Sunday - and it promises to be an exciting afternoon of all-round sporting entertainment.

Fakenham Racecourse hosts its last National Hunt race meeting of the current season on Sunday - and it promises to be an exciting afternoon of all-round sporting entertainment.

“We have had a great season's racing with quality racing and good attendances,” said course chief executive David Hunter.

“We did lose a December meeting to frost, but otherwise the weather has been good to us - I hope that is case for this Sunday.

“We have an action-packed day on Sunday which is purposefully aimed at attracting families and the more casual racegoer. For the first time ever we are staging a lady riders' race.

“Some months ago the Amateur Jockeys Association enquired if Fakenham would be prepared to run such a race, as there are very limited opportunities for lady jockeys. I am all for trying something new and so I had no hesitation in saying yes.

“Hopefully it is well supported and goes well so that it becomes a fixed item in Fakenham's racing calendar.”

In addition to the six National Hunt races on the card, there will be, for the third year running, the finals of the East Anglian Point-to-Point Pony Racing series. These two races will both run on the flat immediately after the last professional race.

The first race is for ponies under 13.3hh over a distance of five furlongs and the second race is for ponies between 13.3hh and 14.2hh and is over a mile.

There will also be a dedicated children's entertainment area and a running race for children aged ten and under over the final half furlong will happen just before the first pony race at about 5pm.

There will be an extra to the first race with two inter-sibling rivalries. Daisy and India Taylor will be competing against each other, as do all of Simon and Joanna Andrew's children - Georgina, Bridget and Jack.

Georgina and Bridget have been riding in pony races for the last five years, but this is the first season for Jack, who was nine last month.

Rohan Plumb (Buster), Polly Mountford (Barkway Songbird) and Alex Chadwick (Crosswell Robbie) all rode their first winners this season and will be competing in their first final.

Last year's winner, Clonross Star (Georgina Andrews), has qualified, but this combination was beaten at Fakenham over the same course by Cwyt-y-Bettws Vocalist (Daisy Taylor)

The second race has just five entries. Georgina Andrews will be in action again, this time on Pepsi. Smoking Gun a small thoroughbred is well ridden by Georgina Wales and should take all the beating.

The first National Hunt race is at 2.20pm, and the last is at 4.50pm. The pony races go off at 5.15pm and 5.30pm.

Adult prices are: course enclosure £7, grandstand and paddock £12 and members £17. Children 16 and under are free as long as they are accompanied by adults.

For further information contact David Hunter on 01328 862388 or 07767 802206.