The popular Hunter Chase Evening meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse comes under starter’s orders on a Friday for the first this year.

The end-of-season spectacular for amateur riders rounds off the Cheltenham season in style with seven races on May 5 – the first at 5.10pm and the last at 8.25pm.

The meeting has until now always been held in midweek but communications manager Sophia Dale said: “It’s something that we’ve been talking about for a couple years.

“It’s the perfect excuse to enjoy a Friday night out as the working week concludes.”

The meeting normally attracts crowds of around 13,000 and Dale said that racecourse bosses would be happy with a similar figure this time around.

“It’s one of the biggest evening meetings in the country,” she said, “and this year there is a new sponsor for the feature race which is worth £25,000.

“Timico, who sponsored the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, are sponsoring the Mixed Open final, which is the Gold Cup of hunter chasing, so it’s a nice concept.

“All we want now is a nice May summer evening.”

And the entertainment at the racecourse doesn’t finish when the last horse crosses the line at just after 8.30pm.

That’s because Radio 1 DJ Greg James is returning to the home of jump racing for a live set in The Centaur.

The 31-year-old will conclude the evening with music from all the latest bands, starting at 9.15pm, and will be supported by a live band ahead of his appearance.

James said: “I love racing and Cheltenham in particular is one of the most beautiful courses in the world.

“I am excited to provide a party for those who were successful and help those who lost all their money to drown their sorrows.”