THE two-day October Jumps Festival at Chepstow racecourse gets underway on Saturday, October 8, and for many will herald the start of the 2016-17 jumps season in earnest.

Across the weekend more than £300,000 in prize money is in offer.

A number of equine superstars are due to be on show at the Monmouthshire racecourse, including last season’s leading staying hurdler Thistlecrack.

His trainer Colin Tizzard has indicated he will make his steeplechasing debut in the £30,000 Robert Mottram Memorial Novices’ Chase which has previously been won by stablemate Cue Card.

In addition, Champion trainer Paul Nicholls plans to bring hurdlers El Bandit and Mr Mix for the Persian War and Silver Trophy respectively.

On Sunday, October 9, former Champion Chaser and two-time Chepstow winner Sire De Grugy is in line to make his seasonal debut, while the sponsor of the £30,000 Power Panel Electrical Systems Veterans’ Chase, David Fox, plans to run his 2015 Grand National runner-up, Saint Are, trained in Gloucestershire by Tom George.

“The prize money investment will mean that Chepstow can continue to welcome a number of equine stars for their opening run of the season," said Phil Bell, Chepstow's executive director.

"Last year both Altior and Blaklion used Chepstow to start their respective seasons and went on to victory at the Cheltenham Festival."

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls said: “Chepstow’s October Jumps Festival signifies the start of the winter season and it is a fixture I always look forward to. We have a team prepared for the meeting and also hope to gallop some of our horses before racing.”

Tickets start from £22, with hospitality packages also available. For more information, please visit www.chepstow-racecourse.co.uk.