Bell expecting bold Betchworth bid

Michael Bell believes The Betchworth Kid is more than capable of picking up some prize-money when he takes his chance in Saturday's John Smith's Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.The four-year-old is without a victory in four starts this season but he has been running with credit in defeat, turning in three placed efforts at Listed level, and returns to handicap company for this weekend's Pitmen's Derby with apprentice Jamie Kyne snapped up for the ride."We're hoping the big field of a handicap like this might well suit the horse rather than running in smaller fields like you tend to get in those staying Listed races," said Bell."He's in good form and I think the hustle and bustle of a race like the Northumberland Plate will help him. I think there is a bit of rain forecast on Friday night and any they get would be extremely welcome."Bearing in mind his rating, we always intended to use a claimer and Jamie was on our radar about a month ago. Hopefully we'll be saying afterwards 'luckily we got him', but we want to be saying that after the race rather than before it."Som Tala arrives in Newcastle on the back of a fine fifth in last week's Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting and trainer Mick Channon believes he too should give a good account of himself at Gosforth Park."He's come out of Ascot really well and I was very pleased with him, so I feel we have got to take our chance at Newcastle as it's a great opportunity," Channon told At The Races.Jessica Harrington's Speed Ticket is the sole Irish raider following the notable defection of last year's winner Arc Bleu."He was with Luca Cumani last year and then he came to me so we gave him one run over hurdles and two runs on the Flat and I've been very pleased with him," said the trainer."Looking at his pedigree he should stay and maybe there is a slight concern about the ground. He has won at Windsor on good to firm so I'm hoping he can go on it. You've got to have a bit of luck in running but I'm hoping if everything goes well in the race he'll run very well."