TONY NEWCOMBE can return to Devon a happy man tonight after braving the winter weather with a three-horse raid on Southwell.

He brought Cats Bottom on the 470-mile round trip to triumph at the track last week and the wonderfully named five-year-old can make it two course wins in eight days by landing the Lincolnshire Amateur Riders' Handicap.

Well ridden by Jimmy Quinn, Cats Bottom strode clear to beat Indiahra by two lengths last Friday. She has to defy a 5lb penalty but has the assistance of one of the best amateurs around in Tim McCarthy.

Fit and in form, Cats Bottom remains on a handy mark and can land the nap.

Newcombe also has decent prospects with Raffles Rooster in the Derbyshire Maiden Handicap.

The five-year-old is the pick on his half-length third to Welsh Mill in a much better race at Haydock last July.

Raffles Rooster should be fit enough having run over hurdles last month and it will be disappointing if he does not play a major role.

Lycius Touch, formerly with Mark Johnston, has her first run for Newcombe in the Rutland Handicap and must be in with a shout in another bad race if reproducing her best form of last year.

Jay-Owe-Two can defy a 7lb penalty in the Nottinghamshire Handicap.

Richard Whitaker's gelding has made pleasing progress and won a maiden last week at Southwell in decisive fashion, beating Faym by three lengths under hands and heels.

Calder King, fit from hurdling, can take the Yorkshire Selling Guaranteed Sweepstakes.

Les Eyre's six-year-old, a good servant, finished a close fourth of 17 to Askern at Redcar on his latest start and earlier won two handicaps at Hamilton.

. Maamur continues to prove mysteriously popular in betting on the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Tim Forster-trained chaser, cut in price by both Ladbrokes and William Hill on Wednesday, had his odds chopped from 33 to 1 in to 25 to 1 by the sponsors yesterday.