LONDON (ShareCast) - Racecourse operator Arena Leisure has traded in line with expectations during the year ended 31 December 2007 and said the current year has started well.

“Following a busy Christmas period, it is expected that profit before interest and tax for the year ended 31 December 2007 will be in the region of £6m,” said the firm.

This includes a small net contribution from the gain on the damaged assets element of the insurance settlement at Southwell Racecourse net of the write-down of the Royal Windsor development costs.

Although the company admitted it is too early to draw any conclusions on trading for 2008, it has an additional 11 fixtures gained for the first three months of this year.

That follows the delayed opening of the Great Leighs racecourse at Chelmsford in Essex and the new one-year contract to oversee the management of that racecourse's racing operations.

Final results will be published on 6 March.

• News Channel