Tony Dobbin has been announced as the new partner for Truckers Tavern in both this weekend's Pillar Property Chase and the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, writes TATTENHAM.

The Cumbrian-based jockey has managed to bag the ride on Ferdy Murphy's stable star following the split yesterday between the trainer and his number one jockey, Davy Russell.

''Tony Dobbin rides him and he also has committed himself to ride in the Gold Cup, which is great news for us,'' Murphy said.

Truckers Tavern is likely to face other Gold Cup possibles including Jair Du Cochet and Sir Rembrandt in Saturday's Grade Two contest and the trainer is hopeful of a bold bid from his stayer.

''The Pillar looks to be a good race but it is no better than last year's Gold Cup and he was second in that, and he won the Peter Marsh last year, so we are not worried,'' Murphy said.

''He is in great order and we are very happy with him. He has done plenty of work and is bang on target.

"This race should bring him on a bit but he wouldn't be far off peak fitness now.''

l Officials at Newcastle will hold a precautionary inspection at 7.30am ahead of racing this afternoon.

Clerk of the course James Armstrong said: ''We had an inch of rain from Thursday through to Saturday and today we have had a further seven millimetres. Seventy-five to 80 per cent of the track has taken it well, there's just the odd area in the home straight where it's beginning to sit on the top.

''We aren't due a lot more rain - they're saying two or three millimetres up to midnight and then it's supposed to be dry. That being the case we should be all right.''