Three-day Festival a roaring success

Jul 4 2008 By James Armstrong, The Journal

THIS time a week ago we were in the middle of a busy three days that saw one of the most successful Plate Festivals of recent years.

We had 224 horses on the Gosforth Park turf over the course of the three days and there could have been 30 more if the unpredictable weather had been a little more settled.

The racing on Thursday proved competitive, if not exactly punter friendly, with some long-priced winners throughout the day. The Seaton Delaval proved popular, with last year’s winner Rio Riva being just pipped by Kingsdale Orion.

The biggest shock of the day appeared to come from Classic Remark who won the biggest renewal of the Listed Hoppings Fillies’ race. The first runner for Harry Dunlop at the venue ended up being his biggest winner to date and returned at odds of 40-1.

The rain that fell during racing on Friday evening and caused me to ease the ground conditions to Soft was nothing more than a bore for the hardy crowd who turned up, and did not seem to hinder the horses taking part.

Race times reflected ground conditions that were not really worse than Good to Soft. The race over the one mile straight was timed at 0.5 seconds faster than the median time, so despite the jockeys becoming covered in mud, the ground had not loosened up as badly as perhaps expected.

The Gosforth Park Cup winner, Buachaill Dona, managed not only to win but travel further than any other horse in the race by tracking over from the far rail to stands’ side. It certainly was not the plan for Adrian Nicholls to do that but more the mindset of his mount.

The rains finally abated late on Friday and made way for a pleasant Plate day. After the course was repaired rolled and dried in the morning breeze the going ended up as Soft, Good to Soft in places. The opening race, the £50,000, Group 3, Chipchase stakes went in dramatic style to Utmost Respect following a drawn-out stewards’ inquiry.

However the highlight of the week was at 3.20pm for the £200,000 Northumberland Plate and the late reserve from Ireland, Arc Bleu, ridden again by the jockey of the moment Adrian Nicholls and trained by the ever shrewd Tony Martin.

It’s all hands on track to repair and improve the course in time for Ladies’ Day on Saturday, July 26.

JAMES Armstrong is clerk of the course at Newcastle Racecourse.