IT’S a sure sign that we’re in the depths of autumn when Wetherby re-opens its doors for the start of its major jumps campaign and today’s curtain-raiser at the popular Yorkshire course is staged in support of Spinal Research and embraces a seven-race card.

One of the highlights is the £10,000 Bobby Renton Handicap Chase, in which racegoers may be drawn towards the peerless Tony McCoy aboard Jonjo O’Neill’s Foundation Man, or the James Reveley-ridden Shadrack, winner of his last two races.

Both those horses, however, are reappearing after a break and their fitness has to be taken on trust. Perhaps a better proposition may be Alderbrook Lad, trained at Middleham by Micky Hammond and a horse who ran well to finish third over hurdles at Sedgefield recently.

Now back over the major obstacles, Alderbrook Lad, a previous winner on this course, has scored four times over fences. He is napped to add to his tally this afternoon with Joe Colliver in the saddle.

The £10,000 racing UK Anywhere Available Now Handicap Chase over two miles is the joint most valuable race on the card and offers Toledo Gold the chance to follow up his recent Hexham win, where he made all the running.

The handicapper has raised the Maurice Barnes-trained gelding 7lb for that success, but Barnes has engaged the services of 7lb claimer Stephen Mulqueen to erase that rise. He could take plenty of catching.

The Spinal Research Rachel Wright Memorial Hurdle - named in honour of the lady from Stamford Bridge who was such a driving force behind this charity day for many years - is a head-scratcher for punters. Most of the runners are Flat recruits making their jumping debuts, but at least Final Countdown has had the benefit of a recent outing over hurdles.

John Quinn’s charge was not totally convincing before finishing second at Bangor, but that experience should have had a beneficial effect on this dual-Flat winner.

Also worth noting at Wetherby are the fit from the Flat Goodwood Mirage (3.25), another of McCoy’s mounts, and recent winner Orby’s Man (4.35), from the Charlie Longsdon stable which was successful on this card 12 months ago.

On the Flat at Nottingham, Hazelrigg makes appeal in the Racing Specials At 32RedSport.com Handicap over five furlongs.

It is some time since Tim Easterby’s sprinter last got his head in front, but he has run some respectable races this season and he will relish the rain-soaked ground.

North Yorkshire apprentice Neil Farley can take the 32Red.com Handicap over the minimum distance aboard Red Baron.

Eric Alston’s speedster very nearly overcame the debilitating draw bias at last month’s big Ayr meeting by becoming the only sprinter to prevail on the disadvantaged inside rail.

It was only in the last 50 yards that he was overhauled and beaten into third place by two horses on the favoured stands side. Compensation may come knocking for Red Baron this afternoon.


Selections

Wetherby today
2.20 Final Countdown, 2.50 Toledo Gold, 3.25 Goodwood Mirage, 4.00 Alderbrook Lad (NAP), 4.35 Orby’s Man, 5.05 Abbey Storm, 5.35 Kaysersberg.

Nottingham today
1.40 China Club, 2.10 Referendum, 2.40 Perceived, 3.10 Banzari, 3.45 Flight Officer, 4.20 Lady Tiana, 4.55 Red Baron, 5.25 Hazelrigg.

Today’s other meetings
Kempton and Lingfield.

Tomorrow’s meetings
Brighton, Uttoxeter, Wincanton and Wolverhampton.