WITH racing at Gosforth Park today for the ITPS & Cellular Solutions Raceday, first race 12.30pm, and final entries now in for the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle next Saturday, the excitement meter has officially been cranked up a notch or two.

We have bumper declarations for today’s meeting and the opening fixture of Newcastle’s National Hunt campaign starts with 82 runners, the bulk of which are running in our hurdle races.

The chases haven’t filled up as well which seems to have been a pattern mirrored in other novice chases around the country of late.

Over the summer we have worked hard on our fences preparing for the new season to try and make them more forgiving and a more inviting shape for the horses. They are softer than ever before and we should see an improved performance by all runners.

Going is mainly good with some slightly quicker ground in the last four furlongs and a little more ease in the back straight.

The team is massively looking forward to the start of the jumps season and I am hopeful of a great campaign and the prospect of an pre-Christmas cracker or two with the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle and also the Northumberland Chase Christmas Raceday to look forward to.

The field for the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle race which gets under way at 3.10pm next Saturday, is headed by no other than Binocular who will be joined by a host of other good horses. Paul Nicholls has plenty of entries but the decision on their line up will be determined by whether the likes of Sanctuaire and Brampour race at Cheltenham in the Greatwood Hurdle.

For more information or to book tickets call 0191 236 2020 or go to www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk

:: James Armstrong is clerk of the course at Gosforth Park.