07:31 There has been 0.5mm of rain overnight and the going is Soft, Good to Soft in places.

Hurdle 7 (normally 1st in home straight) is now Hurdle 3 and located on the downhill section of the course (2 flights there for today). This is to allow ground to recover in an area where the course is limited to movements due to ditch and the 2m start.

10:38 The hurdle relocation will change the number of flights jumped in some of the hurdle races. The number jumped, assuming no by-passing, is:-

9 Hurdles will be jumped in 2m races
10 Hurdles will be jumped in 2m4f races
12 Hurdles will be jumped in 3m races

12:53 Good afternoon from Newcastle, where I have finally arrived, there is broken cloud and there is a chill breeze.

12:58 Racing gets under way in just over a quarter of an hour and we begin with the three mile Blue Square Novices' Hurdle, which sees nine off to take their chance.

Not many clues from the parade ring as most of them are well rugged up. The one with the biggest rug is South Leinster but he still looks best. 

13:22 Well most of the field seemed to find that a hard slog but Brindisi Breeze took conditions in his stride, making all and coming home an eased 13 length winner, having slipped the field as they turned for home.

The well supported favourite South Leinster tracked the leader but had nothing to give in the home straight and he eventually came home fourth.

Charlie Bucket ran a strange sort of race, on and off the bridle, only to run on well in the home straight to take second spot, having been a detached fifth as they turned for home.

Nodform Richard who looked to be running on the spot in the final furlong had looked booked foe second spot before being headed by the runner up in the final few yards, going down by half a length.  

13:38 A small field of five for our opening chase, the extended two mile North Sea Logistics Beginners Chase.

Not much on the positive front in the parade ring but, sorry connections, King Of Ardcarne looked pretty aweful - which probably means he will go on and win.

13:42 What do Northern Racing think an American style fanfare before each race adds to the occasion? I find it irritating.

13:51 Two races and two races won from the front, is this a trend developing?

This time it was Chester Lad who, despite a propensity to jump right and giving the final ditch a clout, made all and took the sting out of his rivals, coming home another 13 length winner.

 In truth the only thing that would have beaten Chester Lad was his jumping as nothing really got within striking distance.

There was a mini-battle for the runners-up spot with Vosges, who had been second throughout, held off a half-hearted challenge from Degas Art.

King Of Ardcarne was the only other finished.

Just Maddie was prominent early doors before fading and pulling up before four out.

14:03 Race three is the two mile LA Taxis Handicap Hurdle, which sees six off to post.

Nothing to set the pulses racing in the parade ring- it is depressing when every runner has pieces or a noseband.

14:10 Dramatic Jewell looked best going to post

14:30 Watching the "away" racing at Warwick we were treated to a dramatic finish in their last race, well anything Warwick can do Newcastle can match - as we had a dramatic finish of our own in what was an uninspiring race.

Although the winner did not make all he was in second or first for most of the contest. The initial pace was set by Miereveld, who was reluctant to race last time out, but his moment of glory was relatively short lived, being headed by Dice at the fifth and eventually pulling up before two out having tailed off.

Dice then took up the running with rivals tracking him well. By the last it looked like all change as Dramatic Jewel put in the best leap to lead and he was challenged by old rival King's Chorister, with Dice looking beaten.

However all three seemed to find something extra on the run-in and it was a bunch finish with Dice getting his nose back in front on the line. King's Chorister edged Dramatic Jewel into third.       

14:38  Next up is the three mile Parklands Golf Course Handicap Chase which sees eleven off to post for the three mile contest.

Nothing of any note in the parade ring.

14:54 Another stonking finish at Newcastle with Morgan Be holding off the fast finishing Categorical by the shortest of noses.

Unlike the earlier races it seemed most of the field wanted to have a go in front at some time in the race, with no fewer than five of the field leading at some point.

Two out it looked to be a two way go with Allanard having a narrow advantage over Morgan Be, only for Allanard to fall leaving Morgan Be well clear and that looked to be it. However nobody banked on Categorical finding the turbocharger and eating up the ground on the run-in to lead a stride after the line.

Morgan Be did drift across causing some interference but it looked to be accidental and it would be a surprise if the result was changed.

It was six lengths back to Rolecarr in third. 

15:05 The result stands

15:07 It is now raining

15:05 Next up is the STP Construction Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle with ten off to post for the 2½ mile contest.

15:30 Another good finish, although this time judge Nick Hargreave did not have to revert to the camera.

Phoenix Lady who had taken up the running three-out looked as though she was going to be overhauled Mahfal, who was produced with a run as they turned for home but the mare managed to dig deep to hold on by a neck.

The winner had spent the race in a group tracking the early leader Realignment, along with Arc Warrior and Funky Munky.

Turning for home Phoenix Lady had the advantage with Funky Munky giving her the most to do. By two out Mahfal had joined them and it was a case of perm any one from three. Funky Munky was the first to crack to set up the thrilling finish.

Funky Munky was really tired on the run-in and was overhauled by Pyjama Game ran on late. 

15:39 Our final chase is the 2m 4f SV Rutter Ltd Best Wishes For 2012 Handicap Chase, with nine off to post and another contest with few clues in the parade ring.

15:52 Well that was almost painful to watch with just three of the nine completing the course.

In the end it was the two greys in the race who led them home with the spoils going to the almost white Tipsy Dara upsetting the odds and beating the favourite Shadow Boxer.

The pair came to the front to join Celian as they came down the back straight, just after the long time leader Man Of Principles had come down at the 8th flight.

Celian remained with the two greys until he refused three out.

The greys were pretty much locked together until Tipsy Dara edged clear approaching the last and she ran on to record a four length victory.

Fog Patches had been settled in last place for most of the contest and although not spectacular the fact he plodded-on meant he collected the third place prize money of £225, albeit beaten a further 46 lengths.

16:07 The biggest field of the afternoon for our final contest, the Gosforth Decorating & Building Services Mares' Novices Hurdle, a two mile contest.

16:09 Destiny Rules was OK until her jockey got on board - now she is trying to get rid of him

16:11 Destiny Rules wins the battle with her rider and unships him - they will try and remount on the track

16:14 Destiny Rules has been withdrawn - no surprise there - a common sense decision, her riders body language was shouting out "I've had enough"

16:22 A first and last race double for Lucinda Russell and Campbell Gillies as Lucia Bay comes home five clear of their rivals, having taken up the running as they turned for home.

Charlies Vic was stone last in the early stages but she made progress to finish second, without ever looking to threaten the winner.

Arizona River had been with the pace throughout, sharing the running with Goodluckin Lucy. She was in contention for the runners-up spot but a tired mistake at the last slowed her down to a canter and it was little surprise that Graceful Descent was able to collar her on the line for third spot, albeit 16 lengths behind the runner-up. 

16:28 That's it from a now freezing cold Newcastle, we have had a few decent finishes this afternoon but, in all honesty, I cannot see any of this afternoons runners making an appearance at The Festival in a few weeks time.

It's back down south tomorrow for racing at Huntingdon, until then a good afternoon.

 Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

Non-runners

Results

13:15 Novices' Hurdle 3m

13:45 Beginners' Chase 2m 110yds

14:15 Handicap Hurdle 2m

14:45 Handicap Chase 3m

15:15 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

15:45 Handicap Chase 2m 4f

16:15 Maiden Hurdle 2m