TOMORROW'S Flat turf race meeting at Newcastle was called off today - but the National Hunt programme there this afternoon was due to go ahead as planned.

After two millimetres of rain fell overnight on already heavy ground the stewards inspected both tracks this morning.

After the inspection the clerk of the course James Armstrong announced: "The Flat card has been abandoned. There's no chance we could race on it.

"There are large areas where the waterlogging has gone but it is too false and horses just couldn't run on it."

However, this afternoon's jumps fixture was scheduled to go ahead.

Armstrong said: "We we'll have to have a long chat with the jockeys and make sure they take it steady."

Newcastle's next Flat meeting is a week today and Armstrong added: "We are keeping our fingers crossed for Easter Monday.

"I'm going to speak to the British Horseracing Board and see if they'll allow us another meeting on the straight course."

Newcastle's loss tomorrow leaves a National Hunt meeting at Kelso and a Flat meeting on the all-weather track at Southwell as the only meetings in Britain.

Over the sticks at Kelso, Brave Vision can gain some reward for his consistency in the Bellhaven Best Handicap Hurdle.

Alistair Whillans' gelding has finished runner-up on his last two starts. He is fancied to make it third-time-lucky under Wilson Renwick.

The £8,000 L G. Wines Handicap Chase is the most valuable race on the programme and recent winner Red Rampage has every chance of following-up.

Trained by Norman Mason, the seven-year-old will again have the assistance of promising claimer Ciaran Eddery and is given my Nap vote.

Also worth noting are the in-form Radar (2.40) and Newcastle winner Tarbolton Moss (4.40).

At Southwell, Honest Obsession can give Giles Bravery a win in the opening Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap. The four-year-old is reported to have been working well.

The four-year-old is reported to have been working well at home lately and tomorrow's Class F race should be well within his reach.

Honest Obsession was a disappointment when trained by Barry Hills last season but the switch to the Bravery yard seemed to have rejuvenated the horse judging by his last run.

He was a creditable fourth in a one mile, six furlong race at Southwell earlier this month in his first race for nine months.

Tomorrow's tips:

Kelso

2.10 - Golden Orion

2.40 - Brave Vision

3.40 - On The Day

4.10 - Red Rampage (Nap)

4.40 - Tarbolton Moss

SOUTHWELL

2.00 - Honest Obsession

2.30 - Sharp Secret

3.00 - Inchcoonan

3.30 - Tefi

4.00 - Villa Del Sol

4.30 - Trojan Wolf

Updated: 12:21 Monday, March 25, 2002