Yesterday saw the second enthralling jumps meeting of the autumn season at Carlisle. Another strong raiding party arrived from the South but, unlike last week, several familiar local names figured among the five-day entries.

In addition to that of Dianne Sayer, Ivegill’s Barry Murtagh was twice in evidence and Nicky Richards had Teddy Tee engaged in the handicap chase.

This afternoon, Cheltenham stages the first of their high-profile autumn fixtures and this time the boot is metaphorically “on the other foot” as northern trainers head south to Prestbury Park with Brian Ellison and in particular Nicky Richards sending powerful names into the mix.

The Greystoke trainer has pencilled in Glinger Flame both for today’s £20,000 novices hurdle and the handicap hurdle later on the same card.

Brian Hughes’s name is alongside in the novice contest for which the James Westoll owned gelding has to hold a major chance. Glinger Flame has won his last three races. He hurdles fluently, stays well and has more than a touch of class.

This latter quality definitely applies to Caius Marcius who has been entered for this afternoon’s 2m novices chase. He has improved beyond recognition in his second season over fences forging a splendid rapport with Brian Hughes and winning consecutive races down at Newton Abbot to add to his successes on the northern circuit.

Caius Marcius has become an outstanding economic jumper. He travels well throughout his races and can quicken decisively under pressure. The Greystoke star will need to be at his best today as he could be opposed by the likes of Ben Pauling’s good hurdler Global Citizen and Getaway Trump from the yard of Paul Nicholls. Race fitness can be a significant advantage at this time of the season though and on this score there can be no concerns about Caius Marcius.

On to Saturday, and the Richards runner at Cheltenham is expected to be Duke of Navan in the Radoxhealth Handicap Chase. The gallant 11-year-old who has been carrying the flag for David and Nicky Robinson for many a season was in grand form last season and was very unlucky to be overhauled close home at Prestbury Park last winter when a fine leap at the last fence appeared to have sealed a famous victory. Ryan Day is Duke of Navan’s regular partner and he will retain the ride tomorrow.

The Duke goes well fresh. He could find Forest Bihan a dangerous rival but Brian Ellison’s chaser has several other entries over the weekend and Duke of Navan will be hard to beat.

Racegoers intending to visit Kelso tomorrow are advised to travel with plenty of warm clothing at first hand as the weather pundits are even mentioning the dreaded “snow” word.

The racing though should warm the cockles of the heart with the valuable 3m handicap chase at 3.00 poised to attract a field of exciting names including the2017 Grand National hero One For Arthur, Sue Smith’s Northern National winner Sharp Response, The Coutherd’s Captain Redbeard and the progressive Blue Flight up from Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Cotswold stable.

The 2m handicap hurdle half-an-hour later sees two Cumbrian entries in the shape of Wot A Skot, for Nicky Richards, and the Maurice Barnes-trained Lady Samback who carries the colours of Bassenthwaite owner-breeder John Wills. Lady Samback has form at Kelso and Maurice Barnes will have been extra pleased with the running of Knockora in the Beginners Chase at Sedgefield last Sunday.

Sent off at the insulting odds of 66/1 Knockora matched strides with the warm favourite Windsor Avenue for much of the race and stuck on bravely to finish second.

Martin Todhunter has done a fine job with the locally owned Chocolat Noir, persuading her to win away from her beloved Cartmel and with the ace front riding jockey Danny Cook in the saddle again the mare can make all in Kelso’s 3m handicap hurdle.

In what could be a rewarding day at the Border course for Cumbrian punters. Iolani will be a clear choice to land the conditional jockeys hurdle under Danny McMenamin always assuming that Dianne Sayer has not opted for a repeat win at Carlisle.

Sunday sees plenty of Cumbrian interest at Aintree. Nicky Richards is set to continue a busy weekend with Big Bad Bear in the novices hurdle. Successful in a Perth Bumper early in the summer after a number of decent near misses this strong sort goes straight over hurdles and two-and-a-half-miles is his ideal trip. A gamble appeared to go astray on Megan Double at Carlisle last week.

A weight of late money caused the Jimmy Moffatt trained handicapper to be sent off favourite but the mare found the early gallop too sharp and she finished on the heels of the placed horses having got going too late. She clearly has ability and compensation could come in Aintree’s long distance handicap hurdle.

Aintree’s Veterans Chase can go the way of Monbeg River. Martin Todhunter had been hoping to saddle him for the autumn National at Listowel but the gelding just failed to make the cut. Instead Monbeg River ran over a shorter trip on the Friday and finished a respectable fourth. Back over a more suitable distance and in a slightly less competitive contest Monbeg River looks tempting.

Finally a sad reminder - the feature race at Aintree is the Old Roan Chase, a contest which Monet’s Garden won three times and one which still bears his name. It is a year since he passed away but he will always be remembered with the greatest of love and esteem.