Carlisle's leading trainers go head-to-head in what promises to be a grandstand finish at the course’s final flat meeting of 2018.

The Cumbrian track says farewell to the sprinters for another year after today’s eight-course card.

Last year’s top course trainer Richard Fahey has saddled six winners in the season, one ahead of nearest rivals Karl Burke and Roger Fell.

All three have strong contenders in the afternoon’s standout race the 8f, Smarkets Betting Exchange Handicap with a £9,700 prize for the winner.

Fahey has five-time winner Withernsea, with Paul Hanagan in the saddle. Fell’s Elusive Heights has raced in good company this year.

Burke’s London Protocol was twice a winner in France last year, including 44,000 Euros for the Qatar Prix Grand Handicap De Milers on the all-weather at Chantilly.

The trio will be in good company. Mark Johnston’s Dream Today was a £43,000 Class 2 winner at York on debut last August and has mainly run at that level in 2018.

Tim Easterby’s Just Hiss, a winner at this class in York last year, will again have Rachel Richardson in the saddle and will be fancied. As will David O’Meara’s Lamloom, twice a winner at Class 4 this year, and paired with Daniel Tudhope.

Seven runners will contest the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes for two-year-olds.

Elsewhere on the card, 17 entries will contest the Andersons’ Quality for your Home Handicap over 6f with Fell and Fahey again challenging.

But there’ll be no opportunity to add to his impressive tally of winners for this year’s leading Carlisle jockey Ben Curtis.

The 29-year-old suffered a shoulder injury after being dislodged beyond the finishing post when riding Sugarloaf Mountain to victory at Newcastle on Friday.

The fall came the day after riding a brilliant treble at Carlisle that took him to 100 winners in a year for the first time. Curtis has 10 winners in 29 rides at the Durdar track this year.

That puts him well clear of the next most successful, PJ McDonald with six, and Tony Hamilton with five.

Molly Dingwall, Carlisle Racecourse’s general manager, said: “It only seems like yesterday we were getting ready for the new season and here we are preparing for our flat season finale.

“We’ve had a wonderful summer, with many memorable days and we’re looking forward to one last hurrah on the flat before attention turns to the jumps season.”

Gates open on Wednesday at 11.30am. First race is at 1.30pm, last race at 5.25pm.

Adult tickets are £15 (in advance) or £18 (on the day). Under-18s free entry when accompanied by an adult.