North Yorkshire trainer Brian Ellison, will saddle Stormy Weather at Newcastle today, with one eye firmly on next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Winner of his last two races, on this course and at Musselburgh, the gelding holds an entry in the County Hurdle at the jumps extravaganza, and Ellison feels he has a major chance of winning – provided he gets in the race.

That’s why Stormy Weather is running one more time in advance of Cheltenham, in a bid to run a big race in victory or defeat and push up his rating to confirm a Festival ticket.

The £35,000 Betfred Eider Chase is the feature contest on the card and Peter Niven may have the answer with Posh Bird.

His ex-Irish recruit won the North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick before turning in another fine effort to be narrowly beaten by Mister Marker at Ayr. Posh Bird is fancied to reverse the placings on these revised terms, which have left Mister Marker with a crushing 11st 12lb to carry.

Bingley trainer Sue Smith seems to have her horses back firing after a quiet period and, if so, Fill The Power is entitled to go well in the opening Betfred Double Delight Novices’ Hurdle.

Categorical (2.20) and the Malcolm Jefferson-trained King Of The Wolds (5.10) are two others to note.

At Fontwell tomorrow, Nicky Henderson’s Cucumber Run is napped to lift the toteexacta Novices’ Chase.

Racing selections

Newcastle (today)

1.50 Fill The Power, 2.20 Categorical, 2.55 Stormy Weather, 3.25 Posh Bird, 4.00 Agent Archie, 4.35 Frascati Park, 5.10 King Of The Wolds.

Today’s other meetings

Chepstow, Kempton and Lingfield.

Fontwell (tomorrow)

2.05 Brough Academy, 2.35 Cucumber Run (NAP), 3.10 Rateable Value, 3.40 Bally Legend, 4.15 Barbers Shop, 4.45 Dormouse, 5.15 Two Oscars.

Tomorrow’s other meeting

Towcester.