Bumper entry and positive vibes for Southwell's first Tapeta fixture on Tuesday

A new era begins at Southwell on Tuesday with its first fixture on the Tapeta surface, a landmark meeting that has attracted almost 100 entries and some of the biggest names in British Flat racing.

Almost £110,000 in prize-money is on offer for the eight-race twilight card, which begins at 4pm. The meeting is the first on the Flat at the Nottinghamshire track since its final race was run on the old Fibresand surface – originally installed in 1989 – in August.

The card has been well supported with 95 entries including runners for Charlie Appleby, Andrew Balding and John and Thady Gosden, the leading three stables in Britain this year.

Southwell's Tapeta card on Tuesday

Southwell's Tapeta debut is ten days later than scheduled after a "troublesome" few months, according to the track's executive director Mark Clayton, but the surface came through an important BHA trial last Monday.

Among those who took part in the trials, which were over five, seven and 12 furlongs, was leading Flat rider and Professional Jockeys Association safety officer PJ McDonald, who revealed there will be a new aspect to racing on an artificial surface at Southwell – a cutaway rail.

PJ McDonald: 'We had three trials and all the jockeys were very pleased with the new surface'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

He said: "We had three trials of eight horses each at Southwell a week ago and all the jockeys were very pleased with the new surface.

"Just like they have at Dundalk, there's a cutaway rail at the top of the home straight to allow the horses to fan out and use the whole track rather than just staying on the far rail. Because of that, I think you’ll see more tactical races at the track rather than the more one-dimensional ones on the Fibresand where you had to break well, travel and then just keep going."

The feature race on the opening card is the £40,000 Winter Oaks Trial Fillies' Handicap (5.30) over 1m3f, with Group-race performer Virgin Snow the standout name for trainer Ed Dunlop.

The race is a trial for the new £100,000 Coral Winter Oaks, to be staged on Lingfield's inaugural Winter Million weekend next month.

Dunlop said: "Virgin Snow hasn't run for a very long time due to a setback and on top of that she has to give a lot of weight away. This is very much a starting point and we're hoping to continue forward to the new race at Lingfield in the new year.

"She had some smart form as a three-year-old and it'll be great to get her back on the track, but I expect her to improve a lot for the run."

On the switch to the Tapeta surface, Dunlop added: "I'm very pro the switch from Fibresand to Tapeta. Southwell is a fantastic racecourse – with a great layout – and I expect the racing there will be well subscribed and very popular."

Supply-chain problems caused the minor delay to the track's first Tapeta fixture and Clayton said on Monday: "We're excited to be staging our first meeting on Tapeta. The number of entries is many more than usual and we've had to divide a race.

"We think this will be the start of more to come for Southwell, now we've got a surface similar to that which the greatest number of all-weather horses have already raced on during winter. We already have Tapeta at two of our other Arc tracks, Wolverhampton and Newcastle, and it has been well received."

He added: "We've put on increased prize-money to launch the Tapeta and intend to have healthy money again for our meeting on January 1, which will include a fast-track qualifier for All-Weather Finals day. We're hoping to get ITV here for the first time that day as we could be a good supporting card for Cheltenham depending on the weather, as we're guaranteed to race."

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