FOR fans of jump racing, the waiting is almost over. The new season at Haydock Park Racecourse begins next week.

The tapes will fly up for the first time on Thursday, November 6 on Racing Welfare raceday when funds are raised for those most in need in the sport.

Following that relatively relaxed start on the track, just 16 days later - on Saturday, November 22 - the action moves up several notches when Haydock hosts one of the major fixtures of the whole year in Britain, the opening day of the Northwest Racing Masters. This features the £225,000 Grade 1 Betfair Chase which attracts the best three-mile steeplechasers from both sides of the Irish Sea. And 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star is expected to bid for his third win in the race in as many years.

This year, the £1 million Betfair Challenge challenges a horse to finish in the first three in the Betfair Chase, then to come first or second in any race at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival, and finally to go on to win the John Smith's Grand National in April.

It is the fourth year of the Northwest Racing Masters which continues at Aintree Racecourse 24 hours later.

One month later - five days before Christmas Day - Haydock Park stages the first of two festive fixtures.

The Sodexo Prestige Tommy Whittle Chase is the major race on Saturday, December 20, while the midweek meeting on Tuesday, December 30 is always popular with families enjoying the Christmas season.

Haydock's two fixtures in January and February are both high-class affairs.

Peter Marsh Chase raceday on Saturday, January 17 includes a series of valuable races. They are very significant in their own right, and are also often used as launch pads for horses going on to the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National meeting.

The three-and-a-half mile Haydock Park Gold Cup, in which many top staying steeplechasers have taken part over many years, is run on Valentine's Day in 2009, Saturday, February 14.

The penultimate meeting of the 2008/9 jump racing season at Haydock is on Saturday, March 21, while the finale is on 'Easter' Saturday April 11.

MORE details about racing at Haydock Park can be found at www.haydock-park.co.uk