One trainer, one jockey, one horse and one race to watch on Friday

One trainer

Ben Pauling saddled Willoughby Court to win the Grade 2 novice chase on this card 12 months ago and, although the gelding has been ruled out of action this afternoon, the trainer could still be in for a good day.

The Gloucestershire-based handler runs the exciting Delire D'Estruval – who got off to a winning start over fences at Carlisle last month – and carries top weight in a competitive-looking novice handicap (12.45).

One jockey

Daryl Jacob has had a fine start to the season, including another Betfair Chase win on Bristol De Mai, and the rider could land another Graded prize with Wholestone in the Long Distance Hurdle.

Jacob, who is the retained rider for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, also partners the interesting Dragon D'Estruval, who won on his first outing for champion trainer Nicky Henderson in May, in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (3.35).

One horse

Sam Spinner: landed the Long Walk Hurdle last seasonCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Sam Spinner burst on to the staying hurdle scene with a 17-length win over The Dutchman in the Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Haydock last season and backed that up with a pillar-to-post victory in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle over L'Ami Serge.

Two below-par performances in the spring took the gloss off his season but he attempts to bounce back in the Long Distance Hurdle (3.00) on Friday.

Another front-running success would provide one of the highlights of the first day of the Ladbrokes Winter Carnival.

One race

The Berkshire Novices' Chase (1.50) may be lacking in numbers with only four runners, but there is no doubting the quality with La Bague Au Roi bidding to make it two from two over fences after scoring on her chase debut at this track.

Watch La Bague Au Roi win on her chasing debut

Warren Greatrex's mare might not have it all her own way though, with the Colin Tizzard-trained Lostintranslation lining up again. She got the better of the battle last time but Lostintranslation showed high-class form over hurdles, finishing runner-up to Black Op in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, and remains open to progress.

Listed winner Spiritofthegames and Talkischeap complete the line-up for the Grade 2 race.

Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news