A racehorse named in tribute to Carlisle football legend Kevin Beattie is set for its first race today.

Beattie Is Back is entered to run in the Betway Novice Stakes at Newcastle this afternoon.

The two-year-old is owned by the Kevin Beattie Foundation, which was set up just over a year ago.

It was established to keep the Botcherby star's name and legacy alive and to raise money for and awareness of charities.

Beattie Is Back is trained by Richard Fahey at his stables in North Yorkshire, and will be ridden by jockey Tim Hamilton.

"His father was Mayson who won the July Cup [at Newmarket in 2012] so has big hopes," said Malcolm Thompson, founder of the Kevin Beattie Foundation.

The six-furlong race gets under way at 1pm and Beattie Is Back is priced 9/1 with Betfair and 12/1 with William Hill.

A statue of Ipswich Town great Beattie was recently unveiled outside the club's Portman Road stadium.

Malcolm Thompson also visited Beattie's home city on the same day - December 18, which would have been the football star's 68th birthday.

The foundation has raised more than £10,000 for charities including East Anglian Children's Hospice, Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, Brain Tumour Charity and for three brothers who have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Malcolm said: "Once when I held a charity night, Kevin said, 'I really hope one day my name will help others in the future'. I thought, 'Wow, where did that come from?'.

"I looked at Kevin and said, 'Mate, your name will always be in the history books as Town’s greatest player and I’m sure your name will help others', but deep down I wasn’t sure how. He shrugged his shoulders and said, 'Yeah, of course it will...'

"That conversation always stayed with me. I had a light bulb moment and decided to set up a Foundation so Kevin’s name will always help others in years to come."

For more information visit https://www.kevinbeattiefoundation.co.uk/