15:58 That’s it from a nice sunny afternoon at Newcastle. We have had some good racing here with some really exciting finishes.

Tomorrow we are at Wetherby, see you then, from Newcastle good evening.

15:55  Well the bumper produced the most convincing win of the afternoon as Quwetwo , owned and trained by Sue Smith trounced his rivals recording a facile seventeen length victory and it was only seventeen lengths because the runner-up, Sitting tenant,  was running on well towards the end.

Sharing the lead with Lookin Daggers early on, Henry Oliver sent the winner to the front as they turned out of the back straight and the result was never in doubt.

Kosta Brava took third place.

15:20 Our final chase of the afternoon produced another convincing winner in the shape of Wot Way Chief a seven length win for a runner who has been off the course for 429 days.

The pace was set by the bottom weight Stormy Beech who led from the start until headed by the winner two out.

To be honest there is little else to report in the race.

14:48 At last some respite for those bookmaker chappies as we see a 16/1 winner romp home and when I say romp home I mean it as Jane Doe, previously a maiden, won by the biggest margin so far this afternoon – twelve lengths.

Conditional Garry Whillans tracked the leaders until coming on to take the lead three out and with some really good jumping just ran on down the hone straight.

Putting in a great jump at the second last the mare won easily.

Zaffie Parson was a running on second but had absolutely no chance of catching the winner.

Glen Rouge, who had been in the van throughout held on for third place. Whilst judge Nick Hargreave was called on to award fourth place to Burgess Hill, who had flattered to deceive at one point but did not seem to be able to run on.

Of the joint favourites, Sam Cruise led for the first circuit before dropping out of contention rapidly and Chapel Flowers was never sighted.

14:08 Race five was our second chase of the afternoon and although the favourite did not win the result was still a bad one as the first two were the top two in the betting and both well backed. I am almost tempted to start a collection for the poor bookies – only almost mark you!!!

The winning run of Roznic will be a memorable one for trainer Tim Vaughan as it was his first ever runner at Newcastle – how nice it must be to have a 100% record at a course. Richard Johnson kept the winner settled mid-division before running on in the home straight.

Three out it looked to be a three horse race with the original favourite Hall Of Flame in contention with Jethro Tull and Roznic.

Hall Of Flame was the first to fade and the race was effectively over at the second last when Johnson jumped Roznic into the lead.

It was another of those races where the further they went the further the winner was going to win by and the official six length winning distance is probably good for better.
Jethro Tull took second and the running on Stravaigin took third.

13:42 I will try and say this with a straight face – I am feeling really sorry for the bookmakers here at Newcastle. Was that convincing?

OK – they are taking a beating here as, for he fourth race out of four, the favourite comes in and in convincing style.

Also a double for Howard Johnson and To McCoy as the odds-on favourite River Shanakill effectively won the race as he pleased.

Always to the fore McCoy finally took up the running six out and the ex-pointer came home a comfortable six length winner.

Starbougg caught the eye in second place, coming with a late run she beat Prioryjo by a head in  a bobbing finish for the minors.

13:20 We have an odds-on favourite in our fourth with the winning combination from the last race sending out River Shanakill, who is currently trading at 8/15

13:10 Over the larger obstacles for our third race and a two and a half mile beginners chase.

It did not produce as exciting a finish as the previous two and the betting was very interesting as well.

Three minutes before the race I reported two joint favourites yet neither ended as favourite as steady money for Kealshore Boy from the Howard Johnson yard saw him sent off the 2/1 favourite.

As in the previous races the favourite prevailed, although this time by a more comfortable 1½ lengths, looking impressive on his chasing debut under a gentle McCoy ride.  Settled towards the rear in the early stages McCoy bought him into contention in the second circuit, running on well into third approaching three out. With Leases Lend and Silver By Nature in the lead.

By the second last Lease Lend looked to be sending out distress signals as Kealshore Boy challenged Silver By Nature. The pair approached the last together but McCoy’s mount put in the better jump and although Silver By Nature put up a fight the result was not really in doubt.  

Classic Moon was pulled up quickly as they approached the fourth. His leg has been put in a splint by teh vet and has just been taken away in the horse ambulance.

12:57 Joint favourites in this race Raysrock and Lease Lend, although I have to say I like the look of the latter in the parade ring.

12:39 I have just had to double check my diary to make sure today is not Groundhog Day as the finish to the second division was almost a carbon copy of the first with the first three in the betting crossing the line in a heap.

As in the first it was the favourite, this time Bolodenka, who got the call, although this time by only a short head.

Skylancer, who was running on well would well have won the race in another stride and could be considered an unlucky loser under Richard Johnson.

Santo Stefano under a typical McCoy run took third.

(I have to say it seems rather odd, but pleasing, to see Messer’s McCoy and Johnson here at Newcastle when there is a big meeting at Cheltenham)

King In Waiting led from the second until unseating  Jimmy McCarthy two out, although it has to be said with some of the jumps he put in it is a surprise they did not part company sooner.

Chief Scout was also well to the fore throughout and only tired in the final stages – if he could run in a more relaxed manner I’m certain he could win a race.   

12:07 Our opening event was the first division of the novices hurdle and it produced a good finish with the first three in the betting crossing the line in a heap.

It may have been a two mile race but apart from the leading three the field were well strung out.

The early pace had been set by Bandos, running somewhat free and giving jockey Gary Berridge a really hard job, not helped by some very sketchy jumping.

Ceding the lead half way down the back straight Quinder Spring then took up the running  before fading turning for home.

Approaching the second last the trio of Burnt Oak, Signalman and Spellchecker were the ones looking to be the strongest and, indeed, they were the three contesting the finish.

It was quite a battle and any one of the three could have been called the winner. In the end it was the favourite Burnt Oak who just managed to get his head in front on the line beating Signalman by a head with Spellchecker a length and a quarter back in third.

11:48 We have a non-runner at last, details on the right.

11:30 Of course today is also the first day of Cheltenham's Open Meeting and we shall be keeping half an eye on proceedings in Gloucestershire and bringing you any news from there.

There is a strong head wind down the home straight.

10:55 Good morning from Newcastle where we have a bright day with some cloud for this afternoons eight race card.

The official going is Good to Soft, good on the bend into the home straight.

As yet we have no non-runners.

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

2:35
10 Thursday's Knight (not eaten up - SC)

Results

12:00

1st 4 Burnt Oak 3/1 fav
2nd 15 Signalman 4/1
3rd 16 Spellchecker 4/1
16 Ran
Distances Head & 1 1/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.70
Place £1.20 £1.90 £2.30
Exacta £14.60
CSF £14.49
Time 4' 09.8"

12:30

1st 3 Bolodenka 9/4 fav
2nd 13 Skylancer 9/2
3rd 12 Santo Strfano 100/30
16 Ran
Distances short head & 1 1/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £4.80
Place £1.80 £2.10 £2.20
Exacta £15.60
CSF £11.89
Time 4' 07.1"

1:00

1st 3 Kealshore Boy 2/1 fav
2nd 7 Silver By Nature 33/1
3rd 4 Lease Lend 9/4
8 Ran
Distances 1 1/2 & 12
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.30
Place £1.40 £4.50 £1.10
Exacta £88.10
CSF £55.75
Time 5' 24.2"

1:30

1st 14 River Shanakill 1/2 fav
2nd 15 Starbougg 14/1
3rd 12 Prioryjo 28/1
16 Ran
Distances 6 & head
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.60
Place £1.10 £2.30 £4.80
Exacta £5.50
CSF £9.15
Time 5' 19.9"

2:00

1st 1 Roznic 7/2
2nd 10 Jethro Tull 100/30 fav
3rd 5 Stravaigin 17/2
10 Ran
Distances 6 & 2 1/2
Fav second
Tote
Win £3.20
Place £1.90 £1.60 £2.30
Exacta £16.30
CSF £15.60
Tricast £90.72
Time 6' 24.4"

2:35

1st 17 Jane Doe 16/1
2nd 7 Zaffie Parson 9/1
3rd 9 Glen Rouge 14/1
4th 4 Burgess Hill 12/1
17 Ran NR 10
Distances 12 , 1 1/2 & 11
Fav 5 & 18 @ 4/1 unplaced
Tote
Win £23.10
Place £3.50 £2.20 £3.70 £3.20
Exacta £182.70
CSF £146.30
Tricast £2,091.40
Time 6' 14.3"

3:10

1st 2 Wot Way Chief 4/1
2nd 8 Stormy Beech 20/1
3rd 3 Moor Spirit 9/1
8 Ran
Distances 7 & neck
Fav 4 Orang Outan
Tote
Win £4.70
Place £2.10 £4.70 £3.10
Exacta £84.60
CSF £68.14
Tricast £679.62
Time 4' 19.1"

3:45

1st 11 Quwetwo 7/1
2nd 12 Sitting Tennant 4/1
3rd 7 Kosta Brava 3/1
16 Ran
Distances 17 & 5
Fav 1 Alan's Legacy 7/1 (upl)
Tote
Win £10.00
Place £2.40 £2.00 £1.90
Exacta £32.50
CSF £36.41
Time 4' 11.2"