This weekend, the Go North Festival returns for its third year, featuring valuable and competitive action at three different venues – including Carlisle Racecourse. Here, we catch up with general manager Helen Willis to find out how preparations are going:

We’re really looking forward to this weekend’s fixture, and it’s a real honour to be a part of the Go North Festival. The three-day event got underway yestreday in Musselburgh before moving onto Kelso today and concluding right here at Carlisle Racecourse on Sunday.

The Go North Festival is a truly unique and brilliant initiative which celebrates the heritage of racing here in the north of England while also providing valuable opportunities for connections who have supported northern racecourses over the winter months.

Over the years, some of the country’s most prolific racehorses have hailed from the north, including none other than the legendary Red Rum, who was trained by Ginger McCain on the beaches of Southport.

The three-time Aintree Grand National winner is celebrated during the Go North Festival and will be remembered on the afternoon with the race at 4.45pm named in his honour.

Over the three days there will be nine £30,000 contests taking place, plus a race worth £50,000 at Kelso today.

One trainer who will be aiming for success on Sunday is Rose Dobbin, who will saddle Captain Quint in the Go North Monet’s Garden Series Final Handicap Chase over two and a half miles.

READ MORE: Dobbin hopes to keep up winning association with Carlisle

We really hope you can join us for what we are sure will be a fantastic afternoon of racing!

I’d like to take this opportunity to give a warm welcome to our newest committee member, Robin Bell-Irving, who is a huge supporter of the industry.

Robin is from a farming background and has a vast array of experience in the equestrian sphere, including having hosted the Dumfriesshire Horse Trials on his land as well as being involved with the Dumfriesshire Hunt Branch of the Pony Club. Robin’s children all became involved in point-to-pointing, leading to Robin himself becoming further submerged in racing as the years have gone by.

We know how excited Robin is to be involved with Carlisle Racecourse and we can’t wait to work alongside him going forward. Welcome onboard Robin!

Looking forward, we’ll next be racing again on Saturday the 8th of April, when we will be hosting our Easter Family Fun Day. Not only will there be great action on the track, there will also be entertainment for the whole family to enjoy around the racecourse too.

The theme for this year’s event is dinosaurs – so make sure you pay us a visit to be in with a chance of meeting Zeus, the largest walking-talking T-Rex in Europe!