A POPULAR Suffolk horseracing event will get a dose of the X-Factor thanks to a visit by chart-topping act G4.The four-piece group, who became famous through the television talent show, will make an appearance at this year's July Festival at Newmarket Racecourse.

A POPULAR Suffolk horseracing event will get a dose of the X-Factor thanks to a visit by chart-topping act G4.

The four-piece group, who became famous through the television talent show, will make an appearance at this year's July Festival at Newmarket Racecourse. They will play on the festival's opening night on Tuesday, July 10.

The visit is just one of many ideas in the pipeline to help turn the festival into a major international event, giving high-society courses such as Royal Ascot a run for their money, and racecourse bosses hope it can become the highlight of the horseracing calendar.

Warwick Hirst, mayor of Newmarket Town Council, said the event, which runs from July 10 to 14, would hopefully bring the town and the racing industry even closer together.

“The July Festival is a very big event for Newmarket, and the idea is to widen it so it is a festival in every sense of the word, with music and other entertainment,” he said.

“We hope that by doing this we can encourage racegoers to get more involved with the town and give them a reason to spend more time here.

“The plans are in the pipeline but we are confident it will be ready for this year - the racecourse is highly organised and has already started taking bookings.”

The July Racecourse, which is also home to the popular race and music event Newmarket Nights, is currently the focus of an ambitious redevelopment scheme to extend and improve the site, with the provision of new facilities to meet the expectations of the modern racegoer.

Work is being carried out to provide two new entrance buildings and two new two-storey pavilions inside linked by an walkway, combining toilets and bars below and al-fresco dining above. The July Course Restaurant - renamed The Summer House Restaurant for 2007 - will be extended at the rear within a new air-conditioned conservatory that will increase the restaurant capacity from 220 to around 300.

Lisa Hancock, managing director of Newmarket Racecourses, said: “When our racegoers see the end product, I think they will be thrilled with what they will find.

“For a 21st century racecourse, the current facilities are simply not good enough and as a result I think this redevelopment will make a massive impact.”

For information on tickets to the July Festival, ring 01638 675 300.

lisa.cleverdon@eadt.co.uk