The curtain goes up on another season of National Hunt action at Huntingdon Racecourse this Thursday.

The ‘Smarkets Season Opener’ is the first of 19 meetings to be staged at the local track between now and May, 2019.

The smarkets.com Chase at 3.35pm – a Class 4 contest over two miles and half a furlong – is the highlight of a competitive seven-race card.

“We are looking forward to another thrilling season of top-class jumps racing here at Huntingdon,” said track general manager Liam Johnson.

“The ‘Smarkets Season Opener’ is set to be the first of many fantastic racedays.”

A new owners and trainers facility will be open for the first time following a £150,000 investment.

And an admission offer for people living in the PE26, PE27 and PE28 postcode areas is running for the opening meeting.

Two general admission tickets are available for £15 when bought online at http://huntingdon.thejockeyclub.co.uk/ before midnight on Wednesday.

Gates open at noon on Thursday with the tape going up for the first race of the campaign at 2pm. The last race goes off at 5.15pm.

The big ABF Peterborough Chase meeting on December 9 will again be the biggest date in the Huntingdon calendar.