FOR many, 'proper racing' begins during the autumn as the national hunt season steps up a gear and the stars of previous seasons emerge from their summer break for a campaign over the sticks.

Local hero Amberleigh House, winner of the Aintree Grand National in 2004, made a racecourse appearance earlier this month when completing his first serious piece of work this season over two miles after racing at Bangor-on-Dee.

Trainer Ginger McCain explained: 'That's how it should be done; it was a perfect piece of work. He loves training and he's very perky, he leads the string at home everyday.'

Graham Lee, who rode the sprightly 13-year-old, said: 'That was the highlight of my week.'

McCain added: 'He'll have one or two runs before going to Aintree for the Becher Chase. We'll look at Wetherby or Chepstow. He just couldn't find top gear in the National earlier this year but carried third top weight and put 30 horses behind him.'

An entertaining raconteur, McCain makes a personal appearance as part of the Chester Literature Festival on October 19, the date of The Chester Grosvenor and Chester Chronicle Literary Lunch. McCain's new book My Colourful Life, From Red to Amber is sure to be a good read for all enthusiasts of the winter game.

Iris's Gift, owned by Robert Lester from Nantwich, put in a winning performance on his seasonal debut.

Partnered by Tony McCoy, the distinctive grey was backed down to 2-1 on favourite in the Blue Square Novices' Chase at Market Rasen last Saturday. Despite jumping rather low over a couple of obstacles, the favourite maintained a resolute gallop in the closing stages.

Only Sweet Diversion was able to mount any sort of challenge but was firmly in second place passing the winning post.

Lester said: 'His performance was as good as we expected. He'll come on a bomb for that run. McCoy was delighted and the ground was fantastic. It was a magical day and I'd love to go to Bangor next week, but it's the boss's (trainer Jonjo O'Neill) call!'

The two Grade One jump tracks in the area, Aintree and Haydock Park, are to stage the 'North West Masters' meeting in November. Haydock Park features the Betfair Chase, run over three miles and worth £150,000 on November 19.

This new race is the first leg of the Betfair Million, which also encompasses the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown on Boxing Day and the totesport Gold Cup at Cheltenham next March. Any horse winning all three races gains a £1m bonus.

Early indications are that both Best Mate, hero of three Cheltenham Gold Cups and Kicking King, who took the chasing crown back in March, are both being aimed at the Haydock race, making it a must-see event.

Aintree hosts the second day of the 'North West Masters' on November 20 when the Grand National fences will be used for the totesport Becher Chase and the Great Sefton Chase. This meeting will provide an emerging picture for the 2006 John Smiths Grand National.