We really are back racing tomorrow.

Above average temperatures at Newcastle tomorrow, advance going description of soft, surely we'll have runners for the first time in nearly 3 weeks?

There was just a bit too much frost still in the ground at Catterick on Tuesday for our novice chaser Shades of Midnight to take his chance. Indeed the favourite Impulsive Star seemed to slip on landing rather than fall, so it was probably the correct decision. The gelding may re-appear over the festive period.....Kelso perhaps?

Anyway, back to Newcastle. Night Comes In runs in the opening novices' hurdle over 2½ miles and this is his third outing over timber and hope he qualifies for a handicap mark after this.
One horse who did get a mark after 3 runs in novice hurdles is Side of the Road. OR99 is probably on the steep side, so she may need a few runs to drop to a winnable mark. No other choice really and she jumps well, so she runs in the 0-120 mares handicap hurdle also over 2½ miles.

Night Comes In

So, our best chance of a winner is Baby Ticker in the 2 mile handicap hurdle. She's still a maiden, on her seasonal debut, rising 9 years of age and can be a bit moody but that apart she'll have a wee bit of a chance! Maybe a small each way interest.....

Side of the Road and Baby Ticker lead the string