Newbury Racecourse has four racedays in March, featuring the Connaught Gold Cup and The EBF/TBA Mares Only Final, as well as many other top class races.

Punters seeking a Cheltenham Festival hors d'oeuvre will be out in force at Newbury's first March meeting - on Friday, February 29 and Saturday, March 1 - where quality racing is guaranteed.

Visitors will get the opportunity to rub shoulders with the country's leading jockeys and trainers as they endeavour to hit peak form, ahead of the festival.

One notable absentee will be 12 times champion jockey Tony McCoy - who is in a race against time following a horrific fall at Warwick last month.

A notoriously bad patient, McCoy said: "I'm itching to get back on a racecourse, but have been delighted with the way my injuries have healed. I'm not setting an exact date for my comeback, but it will be sooner rather than later."

Asked about racing at Newbury, McCoy said: "Newbury is a fantastic course to ride and very popular with the boys in the weighing room. There are no hard luck stories at Newbury - the ground is consistent and the fences inviting."

Leading trainer Paul Nicholls is another fan of Newbury, having run both his Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders Kauto Star and Denman at the track.

Appropriately, Nicholls' yard sponsors, Connaught, are supporting the Saturday card, including the feature race, the Connaught Gold Cup, for the first time.

The race was first run in 1992 and has been won twice by local trainer Nicky Henderson, who is certain to be strongly represented again.

It is also race 46 in the Order of Merit, a competition featuring the very best jump races in the country, in which the best horses compete for an end-of-season winner's prize of £200,000.

Although the Connaught Gold Cup spearheads the Saturday programme, the supporting card looks fascinating, with a mixture of handicaps and novice events.

Friday's card, which is supported by Swindon-based Arkell's Brewery, in aid of West Berkshire Mencap, is just as fascinating, and the winning yards are sure to appreciate some of the sponsor's products.

At the end of the month, all attention returns to Newbury for the penultimate meeting of this year's Jump season, on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29.

Friday's feature race is the Sabin du Loir Memorial Hurdle, run in memory of an old favourite of Newbury who won more than 20 races.

Also on the card is the final of the Racing Post Hands and Heels Hurdle, for conditional and amateur jockeys.

Saturday is Bangers & Beer Day when you will not only be able to sample a range of beers in Newbury's brand new real ale bar, but also try a range of speciality sausages including some delicious boozy bangers'!

Saturday's racing always attracts good fields, and the feature race, the EBF Mares Only Final, never fails to disappoint - and has had as many as 22 runners.