Racing at Chelmsford City got underway in dramatic fashion as Tryster won under Adam Kirby

Tryster won the first race staged at the reborn Chelmsford City racecourse - but not before a dramatic late swerve almost gave victory away.

The Godolphin-owned 2/1 favourite travelled well in rear in the early stages and burst through the pack to hit the front over a furlong out in the Betfred Handicap.

However, the gate and path back up to the parade ring appeared to catch his eye and he swerved across the track soon afterwards, forfeiting the lead to the pursuing Gaelic Silver.

Regaining his balance, jockey Adam Kirby managed to keep pushing all the way to the winning post and his mount just edged back in front in the last strides to score by a short-head.

"He's still very green, he looked at something in the straight and had a bit of a duck-out," Kirby told At The Races, before adding that he thought the Polytrack surface was riding deeper than he had expected.

"I was quite surprised. I thought it was a little bit deep, to be honest. It's riding a little a bit on the slow side, but it's a sound surface - perfect."

Kirby and trainer Charlie Appleby went on to make it a double when Blue Aegean was a comfortable winner of the Weatherbys Printing Handicap.

The first-time hood worked wonders on the top weight as she streaked to a three-length win.

"She has a high cruising speed and when she put it into gear she lengthened all the way to the line," said the rider.

The Essex circuit, formerly known as Great Leighs, closed in January 2009 after going into administration less than a year after it launched, but has reopened under a new name and under the part-ownership of Betfred boss Fred Done.

Considerable work is still under way at the course, with this fixture opened to only a specially-invited audience of around 800, including owners and trainers, but course officials have pledged that facilities will continue to improve over the months and years ahead.

"It's going to be popular with everyone in Newmarket and I think it's pretty unanimous that the track itself is in good shape," said jockey Hayley Turner. "There's still some work to be done - we've already had a few power-cuts in the weighing room today - but I think it will be well-supported, especially if the prize money is good."

Despite flooding in the parade ring, some technical problems with the scales and the power outages, caused by a tumble dryer blowing up in the weighing room building, reaction among those able to attend seemed largely positive.

Seddik Hamla from Harlow in Essex, one of the invited guests, said: "I came here when it was Great Leighs four or five times and it definitely wasn't as good as this - this place is really nice.

"It's better than places like Lingfield and they've really spent a few quid. I'll be coming back soon as they've done it really well and what I've seen so far is very, very good."

Tim Hunt travelled from Southend, also as an invited guest, said: "I've not been here before and it looks unfinished from the outside and they've got a lot of work to do before the next meeting on January 22. But the inside is neat and clean, although I can't see any signage telling you where to go."

Phil Siers, racecourse managing director, responded: "We only bought it in December of 2013 and we've collapsed a two-year construction project into one year.

"The weather hasn't helped us and we've a couple of small things to do which will be completed by the end of January and we've limited the crowd on that basis.

"We've spent £15 million on the track as we want to have a facility that helps racing and all of racing's constituents.

"This is the first of possibly three trial fixtures - we certainly want one more. The official opening will be on February 1 when we'll be open to the public, although we might increase the crowd gradually, perhaps up to 1000, 1200 for the January 22 fixture.

"We've got overall prize money of £2.2 million this year which is a considerable investment by us. For a small track that is a significant amount and we're hoping to get some big corporate sponsors with the money ploughed back into the facilities and prize money.

"We have a couple of significant fixtures here - March 28 which is World Cup night at Meydan, and September 26 which is Breeders' Cup Trial night."

Joe Scanlon, racecourse chairman, added: "This is a preview and you don't open a production on Broadway or the West End without a preview. I know that people are disappointed not to be at the inaugural meeting but it's for all the right reasons."