The Lincolnshire track's ever popular Countryside Day, this time taking place alongside Tastes of Lincolnshire Day, which will see opportunities for race goers to purchase local products, looks like providing seven knotty problems for punters to solve on the track.

Top trainers Alan King and Jonjo O'Neill are among those who have entries in the most valuable race of the day, the £7,500 Drainage and Building Supplies Handicap Hurdle over two miles and six furlongs. King's possibles include Kahrayn, a good second at Huntingdon Racecourse earlier this month.

Meanwhile, the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Apollo Creed, a comfortable winner in a competitive race at Uttoxeter on Sunday, may bid for a quick follow up in the Showsec Handicap Hurdle.

A fascinating extra dimension is added to the entries by the appearance of a number trained in Ireland by Philip Rothwell.

In the concluding 'bumper' race, a 49-strong entry includes the Alan King trained Karabak, an impressive debut winner of a similar race at Market Rasen's last meeting on April 26, when the curtain came down on the 2007/8 season.

The card also includes one of Market Rasen's longest standing races, the Geostar Hunters Chase.

Pip Kirkby, the racecourse's managing director said: " This is always one of the most popular Sundays in the Market Rasen calendar, and I hope we haven't used up all our good fortune weather-wise in recent days.

"The entries for the meeting are terrific, and it is astonishing to think it is just two months to our big day of the year, the Totesport Summer Plate meeting. I hope we will once again welcome many families to the course for some really competitive sport on the track and some excellent things to watch and do off it."

Added to the racing, there will interactive falconry displays, a parade by the Brocklesby hounds, entertainment from Young Farmers and a demonstration of walking stick whittling.

Lincolnshire produces one fifth of Britain's food, from the busy fishing ports, to the windmills, farmlands, butchers, bakers, and chocolate makers.

Visitors to the racecourse will be able to try Lincoln red beef, stuffed chine, plum bread, Lincolnshire sausages, Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese, and a superb selection of vegetables.

Among the businesses with trade stands at the racecourse will be:
Bateman's Brewery, of Wainfleet;
J & L Barclay rare breeds meat, of Woodhall Spa;
Mr Huda's Surma Secret Spices, of Scunthorpe;
The Copeland & Shaw Tea company, of Bourne;
Goodies of Covent Garden, of Alford;
Cote Hill Cheese, of Osgodby;
Plus, Tastes of Lincolnshire themselves.


General admission




Admission gates at the racecourse will be open at midday on Sunday 18 May. The first race is at 2pm.