MOVE over Frankie Dettori. The Mayor of Newport is acquiring racing silks for a charity fundraiser and putting an ex-Grand National winning jockey to the test.

Councillor Paul Cockeram will be putting on the black and amber colours of Newport in a fun race at an evening meet at Chepstow Racecourse to take on Hywel Davies, winner of the National in 1985.

The daredevil mayor will ride Touch 'n' Pass, which has won more than 20 races in its career.

The mayor, who has already abseiled from the Royal Gwent Hospital to raise money for the Sparkle Appeal, will be raising money for his Mayor's Charities Appeal.

On May 5, between the official races, Councillor Cockeram will pit his skills against Hywel Davies, famous for his winning ride on Last Suspect.

For the past few months, Councillor Cockeram has been visiting Robert Williams's training ground at Ogmore for some important lessons before the event.

Councillor Cockeram said: "I am really looking forward to it because it is a lifetime dream to do something like this. I have been to Ogmore to ride for a couple of hours to get used to the horses because they are strong and it is more than 30 years since I have ridden -- and they were only ponies.

"It should be a really fun evening and a good fun race between me and Hywel."

He said they hoped to raise a fair amount of money for the three charities: Sparkle, raising funds for the new £6 million centre for disabled children at High Cross and the subject of our £250,000 Sparkle appeal, Parkinson's Disease and Crossroads. He said they also intend to raise the profile of the charities.

Councillor Cockeram said: "I do like horses and thought it would be a great opportunity to do something like this, so I jumped at the chance.

"I would never have been asked as Paul Cockeram but as the mayor I have been given this dream, the opportunity to race against a previous Grand National winner."

Since October, nearly £20,000 has been raised for the mayor's charities through sponsored events and donations.