The 35 million project is the country's first floodlit facility to combine both horse and greyhound racing. The course is 10 furlongs in circumference and features a five furlong sprint track. It has been described as a wonderful asset to the town, the north east and the entire border region.

The Polytrack surface is made up of a combination of plastic fibres, PVC granules, a soft rubber blend and high grade sand with a wax coating.

The recent trial day attracted a good turn-out of trainers and jockeys and they were unanimous in their praise of the set-up.

To facilitate racegoers attending the opening meeting, there will be a park-andride facility operating from land beside Dundalk Sports Bowl on the racecourse road.

A free shuttle bus service will be in operation from 11.30 onwards. Today's opening session, which is sponsored by the MCR Group, will be followed by 11 additional floodlit fixtures, kicking off with a two day Festival on 27 and 28 September and racing will take place every Friday thereafter up until 7 December .

A total of 343 horses have been entered for the opening fixture. Dandy Nicholls, Karl Burke and Gerard Butler have all made entries with Butler represented by three horses - Bonus, Leon Knights and All The Good.

The latter finished well down the field in Wednesday's Ebor Handicap at York, but is the tentative choice to oblige at the expense of Vincenzie Galilei the MCR Group EBF August Handicap.

Kilkenny trainer Eoin Griffin saddled King Cannavaro to take a mile race under Johnny Murtagh on trial day and the three-year-old will line up in the concluding MCR Cleaning Maiden.

Shinko Dancer, from the Harry Rogers stable in nearby Ardee, was also in action on trial day and she takes her chance in the MCR Steelworks Race. Partnered by Willie Supple, she will be a warm order to prevail.

Best bet of the day may be Wayne Lordan's mount Sleeveless in the MCR Security EBF (Fillies) Maiden.

David Wachman's charge failed to fulfil her engagement in a similar race at Tralee on Tuesday but can gain compensation here.

Racing also takes place today at Ballinrobe where champion jockey Ruby Walsh is fancied to double up aboard Flashy Beau in the Corrib Oil Handicap Hurdle and the hattrick seeking Tory Hill Lad in the EBS Pumps Handicap Chase.

Jim Culloty's Cork scorer Noble Concorde may be good enough to defy top-weight in the Gypsum Industries Handicap Hurdle, while Canitellyou holds most appeal in the Capco Roofing (Prto-Am) INH Flat Race.