Football legend Sir Alex Ferguson is among those setting his sights on Carlisle Racecourse’s most prestigious jumps race of the season.

Sir Alex’s classy chaser Clan Des Obeaux is among the 10 entries for this Sunday’s Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase – the centrepiece race of the annual Cumberland Chase Day meeting.

The Class One-ranked two-and-a-half-miler is regularly the starting point for some of racing’s leading stars. 2014 winner Many Clouds went on to triumph in the Grand National while Saphir Du Rheu (2015) and last year’s winner seeyouatmidnight both prepared for major races at Aintree and Cheltenham by first landing the Colin Parker Chase.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Clan Des Obeaux looked good when winning earlier this year at Newbury. He also ran very well when just beaten by Whisper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

Not that owner Sir Alex, the former Manchester United manager, is likely to have it all his own way.

There are plenty of strong entrants in the race which is named after former Scottish trainer Colin Parker and comes with a £30,000 prize pot.

Malcolm Jefferson’s Waiting Patiently has won three from three starts over fences and is among the entries.

The six-year-old – who has never finished outside the top two in all six of his races to date – has not run since beating Politologue at Haydock in January. However, he is widely expected to make his return at Carlisle on November 5 providing the ground suits.

Another entrant enjoying a hot streak right now is Belami Des Pictons.

The French six-year-old made it five wins from his last six starts when cantering home by 33 lengths at Leicester in February. Expect plenty of interest in this runner if trainer Venetia Williams sends him north on Sunday.

Nicky Richards-trained Baywing has not been seen at Carlisle since 2015, but that appearance – a memorable 10-length victory – set him on his way to four straight wins.

His last victory came at Wetherby in February when he romped home by an impressive 25 lengths.

One horse who knows a thing or two about winning memorial races is Clan Legend.

His victory in the Cyril Alexander Memorial Chase in February was very special for his trainer Nick Alexander as the race is named in honour of his father.

The seven-year-old has six wins from 16 races to date and was fourth last time out at Haydock in March.

This Sunday should be a red-hot November 5th meeting in more ways than one with a cracking day of National Hunt action on the track and plenty of Guy Fawkes-related family fun held alongside it.

The fun gets under way at the racecourse as soon as the gates open at 10.55am. Attractions include pony rides, pyro arts and crafts, a series of "Mad Science" shows and a post-racing bonfire.

And the great news is children get in free.

Geraldine McKay, Carlisle Racecourse’s general manager, said: “The Colin Parker is our Blue Ribband jumps event and we are delighted to see another cracking list of entries this year.

“The race certainly does breed the stars of the future with many of the horses who have triumphed in the Colin Parker going on to great success at Aintree and Cheltenham.

“The meeting always draws racing fans from around the country and we expect another great day of top quality jumps racing.

“And alongside the track we have a host Guy Fawkes-themed fun for all the family as well as a post-race bonfire. What makes days like this so wonderful is, as with all our race meetings, Under-18s get in absolutely free.

“We can’t wait for another fantastic day of racing and fun for racegoers young and old.”

Adult tickets for The Guy Fawkes Family Race Day – Sunday November 5th - are £14.00 (in advance) or £17.00 (on the day).

All Under-18s get in free when accompanied by an adult. Gates open at 10.55am. First race is 12:55pm. Last race is 4.10pm.