Big names of the jumps out of hibernation as Flat stars bid for a final hurrah

The jumps season has burst into life in recent weeks. Like the changing of the leaves, first Chepstow and then Cheltenham, signified the changing of the seasons – but this Saturday is special because we have the mouthwatering return of Grade 1 action.

And that is not just because in America, where the two-day Breeders' Cup epic reaches its Classic crescendo, the quirky Yanks refer to top-level Flat races as Grade 1s rather than Group 1s. No, it is because Down Royal's Ladbrokes Champion Chase means the return to active service of several key characters who will light up the winter months.

Some of jumping's biggest names come out of hibernation, and while Gold Cup favourite Kemboy is not among them due to a suspension on entries for his owners, the one plus-side of yet another Brexit delay is it means no additional complications have been put on the participation of others. It looks a cracker.

Paul Nicholls sends King George winner Clan Des Obeaux across to Northern Ireland for the first start of a campaign that will almost certainly be centred upon a return to Kempton in December. His chief rival appears to be Delta Work, for whom all roads will likely lead to Cheltenham after his third place in that wondrous RSA Chase clash with Topofthegame and Santini.

He may be the most likely Gold Cup contender of these, with Clan Des Obeaux a disappointing fifth last season and Road To Respect running in the Ryanair after finishing fourth the year before, but this race is not being run over three and a quarter miles around Cheltenham's brute of a New course in March. This is a seasonal debut in a Grade 1 three-mile chase at Down Royal, and his two main rivals may well be better suited to that. If Delta Work can win he will lay down one hell of a marker.

Because to do that he will have to beat Clan Des Obeaux, who was all speed and class when pulverising a strong King George field at Kempton last year, and Road To Respect, who posted a career-best Racing Post Rating when winning this first time out last year by 16 lengths. No mean feat. Granted, Road To Respect faced nothing like this year's opposition, with Woodland Opera chasing him home, but that ability to run up to his very best on his seasonal bow arguably makes him the one to beat.

While five heavyweights will go toe-to-toe in the Down Royal race – from which we are almost certain to get major contenders for the season's big prizes en route to Cheltenham, over at Wetherby a field of talented but somewhat overlooked challengers has been amassed – with the hope one or two can step up and earn their shot.

Last year's Charlie Hall winner Definitly Red and Gold Cup sixth Elegant Escape have proved themselves, so far, to fall just short at the highest level. At seven, Colin Tizzard's Welsh Grand National winner could reasonably be expected to develop further and find some – if not most and potentially all – of the 26 lengths he needs to win a Gold Cup based on this year's running.

La Bague Au Roi may never go down that route, but such is her speed and so impressive was her defeat of Topofthegame and Santini – yes, those two names again – in the Kauto Star, that she could well put herself in position to carry a major challenge into the King George, and from there who knows?

There are quality prospects and old favourite on the undercards at Wetherby and Down Royal, exemplified by the fact Champion Bumper winner Envoi Allen makes his hurdling debut at the latter, while Ascot rounds out the ITV action with a similarly stacked card. The jumps season may have been slowly creeping into the consciousness, but the winter sport is no longer coming – it's here.

La Bague Au Roi heads Topofthegame in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase last DecemberCredit: Edward Whitaker

Flat fans fear not – there is stellar action worldwide

It is not all high-class jumping action, but fans of the Flat are in for a long old day with four Group 1s at Flemington before any right-minded jumps fan would even consider being awake – and then nine Grade 1s at Santa Anita as evening turns to night.

In between there is Newmarket's nine-race card, with the Horris Hill – imported from Newbury – the highlight, while Aidan O'Brien sends four to Chelmsford, which will more than double the number of runners he has had at the Essex track.

O'Brien, of course, will be more focused on Santa Anita, where Magical may not be running but he still saddles the favourite for the Breeders' Cup Mile and second favourite for the Turf. The St James's Palace and Prix du Moulin winner Circus Maximus heads a numerically strong European challenge in the shorter contest, while the Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck is joined by Charlie Appleby's Old Persian in a potent double threat to local favourite Bricks And Mortar, who is unbeaten in a campaign that has landed the Pegasus and three other Grade 1s.

Anthony Van Dyck: this year's Derby hero runs at the Breeders' CupCredit: Alan Crowhurst

In the Filly & Mare Turf a whole host of Europeans challenge another Chad Brown monster unbeaten this season in Sistercharlie, and while there may not be British interest in the Classic it remains the highlight of the card.

Bob Baffert's Whitney Stakes winner McKinzie is the favourite, while his jockey Joel Rosario could already have attracted the ire of the President should he guide Covfefe – wonderfully named after a mystifying misspelling in a Donald Trump tweet – to victory in the Filly & Mare Sprint – for which she is joint-favourite.

Saturday on ITV Racing: armchair guide

1.20 Wetherbybet365 Handicap Chase 2m3½f

The televised action kicks off with a competitive handicap chase. Phil Kirby had a treble on this card last year and his Oak Vintage has dropped to a winnable mark.

1.35 Ascot
Ascot Underwriting Chase 2m3f

A handicap for novice chasers that features Grade 1-winning hurdler Pingshou running off a mark of 140. That should be well within his compass but he has been beaten when heavily odds-on on his last two starts.

1.55 Wetherby
bet365 Mares' Hurdle (Listed) 2m

La Bague Au Roi won this two years ago and last year Lady Buttons announced herself for the first time as the first part of that Kirby treble and is favourite to do so again.

2.10 Ascot
Byrne Group Handicap Chase (Listed) 2m1f

Another competitive handicap featuring last season's Arkle and Maghull fourth Clondaw Castle taking on seasoned handicappers like Diego Du Charmil and the tearaway Speredek.

2.25 Down Royal
Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1) 3m

King George hero Clan Des Obeaux and Punchestown Champion Novice scorer Delta Work take on last year's winner of the season's opening Grade 1 Road To Respect.

2.45 Ascot
Sodexo Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 1m7½f

Alan King has won the last two runnings of this with a five-year-old and saddles the well-fancied Lisp, aged five.

3.05 Wetherby
bet365 Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m

Some old favourites such as Ballyandy, Unowhatimeanharry and The Worlds End, but this is a contest renowned for upsets with the last winning favourite back in 2011.

3.20 Ascot
Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m

A whole host of experienced handicappers may have to make way for one of last season's better novices with the likes of Vinndication, On The Blind Side and Mister Malarky expecting to go on to better things.

3.40 Wetherby
bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2) 3m

A major stepping stone to the Betfair Chase, last year's winner Definitly Red faces Gold Cup sixth Elegant Escape and dual novice Grade 1 winner La Bague Au Roi.

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