There is plenty of racing action in store on Thursday with three tracks beginning new seasons over jumps.

They are Carlisle, Wincanton and Thurles, while Flat meetings come from Bath and in the evening from the all-weather track at Chelmsford.

We have three fancies across Thursday’s action including one for champion trainer Paul Nicholls on the opening day of a new term at his local track in Somerset.

15:45 Wincanton – Inca De Lafayette @ 9/4

Britain’s champion trainer Paul Nicholls has a fine record at his local track Wincanton over the years and he’s liable to be on the scoresheet on day one of the new season at the Somerset venue.

He has a number of leading chances, including Inca De Lafayette in the Lester Aldridge Handicap Hurdle.

The French import made an immediate impact on stable bow for the Ditcheat supremo in February 2022, winning a Taunton maiden hurdle in good fashion over the extended two-mile trip.

He didn’t fire back there in novice company soon after and would race only three times last season. Well held in two starts at Chepstow in February after his belated return, he ran his best race back at Taunton (2m½f, soft) in April when finishing fourth.

He has undergone a wind operation during the summer and has scope for better off what is a workable mark.

He’s on the Most Napped table via the Betfred Betfinder for Thursday’s action and can oblige under Harry Cobden.

16:10 Carlisle – Burrows Hall e/w (4 places) @ 11/1

Sandy Thomson’s recent Kelso winner Kilbrainy has a leading chance of following up 11 days on, as he escapes a penalty for this handicap hurdle over 2m1f and Ryan Mania’s mount makes the market on the basis of being 8lb well-in for this.

This is, though, a Betfred Extra Place Race (four places) and there might be some mileage in siding with Sue Smith’s returning Burrows Hall at double-figure odds.

He won over course and distance on good to soft ground back in April in a Conditionals’ contest, racing prominently and coming through to challenge and win despite his technique at the obstacles lacking fluency.

He was favourite to follow up at Hexham (2m4f, soft) soon after, but had a valid excuse for that poor run having been reported to have bled in the race.

Off since, he returns off what remains a workable mark and could be worth chancing in a race that is wide open outside of the market leader.

18:00 Chelmsford – Riot @ 13/8

Former Qatar Racing inmate Riot was quite useful when trained by John & Thady Gosden, finishing third in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2021 behind no less than future star sprinter Highfield Princess.

Their careers went in different directions afterwards, with Riot having a fruitless spell in Ireland for Johnny Murtagh before linking up with David O’Meara.

He went 0-4 for this handler last season, but returned with a bang when scoring over this C&D in May. He held his form across the summer on turf, winning at Doncaster (7f, good) in July and staying consistent afterwards.

His most recent start came back here last Saturday and he was a length down in third crossing the line, doing best of those that were held up.

A new headgear combination is tried now and he’s off the same mark as when scoring here in May.

This race doesn’t look as strong on paper as the one he contested a matter of days ago and the Kingman gelding is fancied for a second success at this Essex layout.