Alvarado, a half-brother to North Yorkshire’s big Grand National hope, Character Building, can prove himself a rising star at Carlisle tomorrow.

The four-year-old, trained by the in-form Howard Johnson, goes for the European Breeders’ Fund Novices’ Hurdle with Denis O’Regan in the saddle.

Alvarado has plenty to live up to if he is eventually emulate Character Building, third to Denman in the Hennessy Gold Cup two years ago and the winner of the Kim Muir Chase at last season’s Cheltenham Festival. The John Quinn-trained gelding suffered a foot problem and was subsequently denied a crack at the Grand National, for which he was one of the favourites, but the Aintree showpiece is among his prime objectives this term.

Alvarado, a decent bumper horse, won on his hurdling debut on this course last month when beating the highly-regarded McMurrough.

He has a 7lb penalty to carry tomorrow, but this progressive customer should take all the beating as he bids to climb further up the ladder and is awarded the nap vote.

The featured £12,250 jockeyclubracecourses.com Novices’ Hurdle can fall to Comhla Ri Coig, trained by Donald McCain, who has a good record on this course.

A useful hurdler, who rose to a handicap mark of 147, this smart gelding shaped with unmistakable promise on his chasing bow at Bangor when finishing third earlier this month. The best of him is still to come.

Also worthy of attention in Cumbria are the promising Rosbay (12.55) and the lightly-weighted Bamby (3.05), who returns to a course where she has been successful in the past.

At Kempton, Kieren Fallon is the rider to follow throughout the afternoon.

The former champion jockey has some fancied mounts, including the Nigel Tinkler-trained French Art (3.15), who is long overdue a winning turn, the talented Hebridean (4.15) and the promising Kazbow (4.45).

Another Fallon partner worthy of note is Re Barolo, who contests the £40,000 Hyde Stakes, one of two Listed events on this valuable card.

A six-times winner, Re Barola ran well to finish third at Dundalk three weeks ago on his first outing since August. He should be cherry-ripe for this one-mile test.

Thistlestar, who ran well to finish third on her one and only start at Ayr in September, represents Richard Fahey in the European Breeders’ Fund Maiden Stakes and is not without a winning chance if she handles the Polytrack surface.

Racing selections

Carlisle.

12.55 Rosbay, 1.25 Alvarado (NAP), 2.00 Comhla Ri Coig, 2.30 Newman Des Plages, 3.05 Bamby, 3.35 Amjad.

Kempton.

2.10 Thistlestar, 2.45 Confide In Me, 3.15 French Art, 3.45 Re Barolo, 4.15 Hebridean, 4.45 Kazbow, 5.15 Leelu, 5.45 Nativity.

Tomorrow’s other meeting: Leicester.

Today’s meetings: Lingfield, Newbury, Newcastle, Towcester, Wolverhampton.