LEADING trainers have targeted some of their top prospects for a trip to Carlisle and a crack at the £125,000 finals day of a new race series.

Qualifying races for the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Northern Lights Series end on Wednesday – but plenty of fancied runners have already bagged their place for finals day on Sunday, December 3.

Cartmel's James Moffatt, Micky Hammond, Lucinda Russell, Iain Jardine, Donald McCain and Tim Easterby all have horses qualified.

Each final at Carlisle carries prize money of £25,000 and is the culmination of months of qualifying held exclusively at northern racecourses, including Cartmel in the summer.

And with qualifiers still to go at Wetherby and Hexham – where Moffatt runs Smart Ruler on Wednesday – there is still time for late contenders to book their place at what is sure to be a showpiece event in Cumbria.

Moffatt believes the series is a shot in the arm for northern racing, with Lough Kent – twice a winner at Cartmel under Barrow conditional jockey Charlotte Jones this year – among those he has lined up to go to the finals.

The Pit Farm Stables handler said: “It’s a good idea for the second or third tier rated horses, it gives them their Cheltenham as it were. Good prize money always brings owners to the table, so I think it’s a great initiative.

“When you have that kind of prize money up for horses you are encouraged to have a go.

“I think it’s a great initiative and we need more things like this in the north of England.

“I have a horse called Lough Kent that’s done quite well in the spring and he qualified at Cartmel in May.

“He’s had a break and I think he’s going to come back and have another go. He has won on soft ground. It’s certainly a very realistic option for him.”

Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell has seven horses qualified for finals day at Carlisle.

Asked about the Northern Lights Series, Russell said: “We always had our eye on it and I think it’s fantastic for the mid-range horses. I think what’s great with the Northern Lights is it gives those horses a chance.

“It’s very good for the horses that are improving, moving up the ratings.”

Russell’s six-year-old middle-distance qualifier, Forest Des Aigles, has been targeted at finals day with the full support of his owner.

The trainer added: “He’s owned by Ray Anderson Green and Ray is a huge supporter of these kind of initiatives. He asked us to aim the horse at the race, so it’s been a good plan.

“We’ve chosen the actual races and I think he’s only raced in qualifiers. He won at Hexham early last month when we had him aimed for the November Ayr qualifier but he came to hand so quickly that we ran him earlier.”

Forest des Aigles, was ridden to the winning post at Hexham by Grand National-winning jockey Derek Fox. He reckons the second-season chaser is one to watch in the middle-distance final.

Fox said: “He’s a horse to look for now and in the future, he’s progressing. He handles well, jumps well and is straight forward with a nice attitude.”

Tickets for the Northern Lights Series Final on Sunday, December 3 are £14 in advance (£17 on the day). It is free admission for all-under-18s when accompanied by a full-paying adult.