Bitter wrangling over the future of a racecourse will hopefully be resolved today, by three top judges at London's Civil Appeal Court.

Widowed Hilary Scotto, whose husband, Frank was chairman of Sedgefield Racecourse, County Durham, risks six-figure legal costs bills if she fails in her bid to stop Northern Racing adding Sedgefield to its portfolio.

Mrs Scotto, who owns just over 21 per cent of the company that controls the course, Sedgefield Steeplechase Company (1927) Ltd, is relying on a pre-emption clause in the company's articles of association in her bid to thwart Northern Racing's ambitions.

But Northern Racing, owned by millionaire entrepreneur Stanley Clarke, is fighting her every inch of the way.

Mrs Scotto is appealing against a ruling of Lord Hoffmann at the High Court in January, which removed a major obstacle from Northern Racing's oath. He rejected arguments that other shareholders, who had signed sale agreements with Northern Racing, were obliged to notify Sedgefield's directors of the deal.

He dismissed claims that the directors were obliged to give Mrs Scotto first refusal on buying the disputed shares.