Newcastle and Southwell: the best of the action as Cheltenham falls to weather

Harry Whittington has always had a soft spot for Simply The Betts – "the trainer's favourite," he once said – and he was thrilled with his debut chase victory at Chepstow last week.

Not hanging about, Whittington fields the useful six-year-old under a 7lb penalty in Newcastle's £12,200 Logico Chase (2.50) on Friday.

"He's a lovely horse and I've always loved him, while Andrew and Kate Brooks, his owners, adore him as well," said the trainer.

"He did it well at Chepstow, but we bought him to go chasing and always felt he'd be a better chaser than hurdler. He had a couple of niggles a year ago, so we gave him plenty of time, which I think has done him the world of good.

"He's come back a much stronger horse and he's gone up 10lb for Chepstow, so is 3lb well in and has come out of the race in great order. I was looking forwards and couldn't see another obvious race, so we thought we'd have a go – as we think he's still well handicapped – on a flat track that should suit.

"Hopefully, his jumping will be a bit more polished on a flat track, but he's a good horse and we're looking forward to this."

It is nearly a six-hour, 327-mile trip from Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat base in Somerset to Newcastle, but that has not stopped the champion trainer sending two runners on the trek north.

Ellarna runs for the first time since a breathing operation in the mares' maiden hurdle (1.05), while Jeremy Pass, a point-to-point graduate who had Nicholls purring in a recent stable tour, contests the concluding bumper (3.25).

Simply The Betts: a winner at Chepstow last weekCredit: Edward Whitaker

Jeremy Pass will not, however, have things all his own way with the Tom Lacey-trained Unohu in opposition.

Lacey has a fine reputation with his bumper brigade and said: "He has been impressing me with everything he has done at home. He did a couple of nice bits of work that really pleased us."

At Southwell, Dan Skelton, a one-time Nicholls protege, hands a debut over hurdles to The Mulcair, who looks a likely type for the novice hurdle at 2.00.

He will be partnered by Skelton's brother Harry, whose wife Bridget Andrews had been declared to ride until Cheltenham's meeting was called off.

However, there is an inspection at Southwell at 7.30 on Friday morning following 15mm of rain at the track on Thursday and with further rain forecast for Thursday evening.

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