Newcastle unveil rehearsal plans

County Durham bookmakers Reuben Page are to back the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on November 26 under their new brand name of Pagebet.

The stayers’ race has been moved from Chepstow to another Northern Racing track due to lack of terrestrial television coverage, after the BBC decided not to show racing from the Welsh track on the first Saturday in December.

The Pagebet Rehearsal Chase is being brought forward a week and will bolster the Pertemps “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle card at Newcastle.

Both feature events are due to be televised by Channel 4 and the Rehearsal, run as an open handicap for the first time last year, is having its prize fund boosted by £15,000 (€22,000), to £60,000 (€87,000), under the north-east bookmaking firm’s sponsorship.

David Williamson, executive director of Newcastle racecourse, said: “I am thrilled that Pagebet will be the sponsor of our new high-class, three-mile steeplechase and delighted that the racecourse is working so closely with another growing and successful north-east business.

“The Rehearsal has been moved due to the lack of television coverage after the BBC decided to pull out of that day’s schedule at Chepstow.

“We will now have a top-class hurdle race, which will be worth £80,000, and the Rehearsal, which in effect will be a Gold Cup trial, on the same day.”

Reuben Page director Austin Carney added: “We believe that the re-branding of all our betting activities under the Pagebet banner will significantly enhance our business.

“Part of this development is the support for the Pagebet Rehearsal Chase to be run at Newcastle racecourse this autumn, our largest sponsorship to date.”

Previous winners of the Rehearsal Chase include the high-class Master Oats, See More Business, Sir Rembrandt and One Knight.