One of National Hunt racing’s prized partnerships is targeting fresh success as the clock counts down to a new season at Carlisle.

Donald McCain lies third in the British Horseracing Authority’s jumps championship table, closing in on 30 wins and £250,000 prize-money.

The Grand National-winning trainer has enjoyed plenty of success in Cumbria in recent years and now has the prolific Brian Hughes as his first-choice jockey.

McCain has saddled 38 Carlisle winners over the last five years and he believes its opening meeting on October 18 marks the start of the core of the jumps season.

He said: "It’s a place we always like to run because we think so highly of it.

"Particularly on the outside tracks it’s a very, very good test. For a young chaser, there’s nowhere better for them because they get plenty of time to work things out."

Eight-year-old chaser Raise A Spark is a possible contender for that opening meeting, having secured a top-two finish in both his outings at Cartmel this year.

Hughes enjoyed a fantastic 2017-18 season. This included finishing as Carlisle’s top jockey with 13 wins.

He’s been a runner-up to Richard Johnson in the title race for the last two seasons and a regular on McCain’s horses, riding 24 winners for him in 2017-18.

McCain said: "He’s the North of England’s leading jump jockey by a good way.

"We’re both looking forward to putting out some good horses in some good races and, hopefully, there will be plenty of winners."

Carlisle will again host the finals of The Northern Lights series on December 2 in what will be a hugely-anticipated day of racing.

The series is designed to provide greater opportunities for mid-tier jump horses at northern racecourses, 100 qualifying races are held at 14 northern racecourses, culminating in the finals day.

McCain has half a dozen qualifiers and believes there will be more as the races climax in the coming weeks.

Molly Dingwall, Carlisle Racecourse’s general manager, said: "We’re fortunate at Carlisle to have the support of such established trainers as Donald."

Tickets are on sale for the Smarkets Grand Jumps Season opener at Carlisle on October 18. Adult tickets are £15 (in advance) or £18 (on the day).

Under-18s get free entry when accompanied by an adult.