Seven thrilling days of key festival trials and jump stars returning

For racing fans this week looks set to be one to get excited by with a mix of high-quality races and top-class performers set to hit the racecourse. . .

Monday

Carlisle can often unearth some interesting novice prospects and Monday's card has attracted some highly exciting names. The Kim Bailey-trained Vinndication makes his chasing debut (1.30) taking on a good field including Red Rising and Euxton Lane.

Nicky Henderson enjoys plenty of success at Kempton and he unleashes a few leading young prospects to start the week including Before Midnight and Reigning Supreme while Epatante is another interesting prospect having won a French Grade 1 before moving to England.

Tuesday

Runners in the Champion Bumper have made a big impact since being sent hurdling so far this year and the Fergal O'Brien-trained Mercy Mercy Me is set for his first test over obstacles (1.20). He takes on impressive point to point winner Down The Highway in an intriguing novice event at Lingfield.

Tuesday's racing also comes from Hereford and Huntingdon with evening action staged at Chelmsford.

Wednesday

Exeter is always a venue to keep a close eye on for future jumping stars and a few big names could line-up at Devon this week. The Tom George-trained Black Op, a Grade 1-winning novice at Aintree, could make his chasing debut (3.10).

In Ireland, Fairyhouse features a few other interesting names including Bleu Berry, last year's Coral Cup winner, who could feature in the Beginners Chase on the card.

Thursday

There is Graded action in Ireland with the Clonmel Oil Chase taking centre stage. The two and a half mile event has been won by Champagne Fever, Sizing Europe and Alpha Des Obeaux in recent years. This year's renewal could feature festival winners Rathvinden and Shattered Love.

In Britain action comes from Taunton and Ludlow and three all-weather meetings from Southwell, Kempton and Chelmsford.

Friday

Jumping action returns to Cheltenham for the three-day November meeting and Countryside Day is always a quality day of racing.

Tiger Roll: Grand National winner could begin road back to Aintree at CheltenhamCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Grand National winner Tiger Roll could make his seasonal return in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase while there is quality Grade 2 action in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, won by the smart On The Blind Side last year.

Newcastle also stages National Hunt racing while Flat cards are held at Wolverhampton and Lingfield.

Saturday

The valuable BetVictor Gold Cup is the feature race on a thrilling weekend of racing from Cheltenham. The £160,000 handicap looks ferociously competitive with entries for Thistlecrack, Mister Whitaker, Rather Be and last season's winner Splash Of Ginge.

The Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle trial unearthed the eventual favourite for the main event, Apple's Shakira, when she dazzled in the two-mile event and it could be worth keeping close attention at 12.40.

Apple's Shakira: a winner of the Triumph Hurdle trial last seasonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Cheltenham's novice chases are renowned for producing top-quality horses and with Thistlecrack and Black Corton winning the past two editions the 1.15 should also be watched.

Punchestown is sure to feature some leading Irish hopes while Lingfield stages the first Listed action since the end of the turf season with the Churchill and Golden Rose Stakes. Saturday's racing also comes from Wetherby, Uttoxeter and Wolverhampton.

Sunday

Grade 1 action comes from Punchestown with the latest edition of the Morgiana Hurdle. Last year the prize was taken by the brilliant Faugheen but this year's favourite is the fantastic Samcro. Gordon Elliott's runner, who was beaten in the WKD Hurdle earlier this month, looks to make amends and cement his Champion Hurdle credentials.

There are also two Grade 2 novice chase prizes up for grabs with the Florida Pearl and Craddockstown set to be contested.

Cheltenham concludes its three-day meeting with the feature Greatwood Hurdle. The two-mile handicap is always an interesting betting heat.

Elsewhere on the card the Supreme and Arkle trials are key festival pointers while the closing Listed bumper consistently features exciting prospects for the future.

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