The city of Newcastle has been in constant party mood ever since their beloved Magpies' trophy win over the previous weekend and the sporting theme continued with a midweek race meeting at Gosforth Park. The turf season may have already begun in Ireland and with just ten days to go until the start of the British turf season, this would be the beginning of the end for the all-weather season.
A seven race card would take place with the feature contest coming in the form of a valuable class two handicap, a rare treat for what would usually be a run of the mill meeting. Elsewhere, the lower grade races would continue alongside a very interesting novice contest which featured numerous previous winners.

Race One: The Best Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Apprentice Handicap - Class Six - Seven Furlongs - Runners: 6
The fixture would open with a view to the future as this handicap limited to apprentice riders would provide clues of the next big stars of the saddle. The class six event over the straight seven furlongs would see a small field go to post, but those involved would give more invaluable experience for the jockeys onboard.

Top weight would be carried by War Memorial, who would make his debut for the Craig Lidster stable in this contest. The four year old remains winless, but showed much better last time when going down by a neck at Southwell. He would need to confirm his upturn in form here though under Shay Farmer. The five year old Reginald Charles showed some very smart form on the turf and was highly tried on occasions. He would make a perfect start to life with Geoff Oldroyd by winning for the first time at Southwell and had the assistance of the shining talent Warren Fentiman. Linda Perratt would saddle Keep Me Stable at Newcastle once again and the five year old knows this place very well. She was last successful here in September last year, but has continued to perform well in defeat, including when narrowly denied over course and distance at the start of the month. The Anthony Brittain-trained Spartan Fighter has plenty of miles on the clock but is another Newcastle regular. Seven of his eleven wins have come at this venue, the latest in October. The eight year old has been hit and miss of late, so would need to bounce back. The Mick and David Easterby-trained Yorkstone rattled in a handful of wins at the end of 2023, but hasn't been in the same form since a break of almost a year. The five year old has seemingly struggled with higher ratings and would need some help from the handicapper. The speedily bred Art Fantastique has proven to be frustrating since winning twice in 2023. Mark Usher's filly has tried this trip just once, but the stamina debate proved inconclusive and she would complete the six strong line up for the opener.

Winner: 

Race Two: The Gamble Responsibly At BetUK Handicap - Class Four - One Mile, Two Furlongs - Runners: 11
Next up would see a ten furlong handicap which took place at an unusually later time, thanks to the belated sunset in mid-March. This would be a tightly contested and competitive race as plenty of Newmarket-based yards took on those based in the North. 

Carrying top weight would be the Dylan Cunha-trained Asgard's Captain, representing Newmarket. The five year old has a likeable profile having placed at a higher level in the past. He would win five times last year with three of those coming at Newcastle. He would nearly make it four here last time out by losing out to the narrowest of margins. The six year old Cougar was once highly touted in his earlier days, but now finds himself at the Iain Jardine-stable. The former Ballydoyle inmate lost his way on the flat and over hurdles so this latest stable switch will need to reinvigorate the gelding. The Owners Group silks would be spotted courtesy of Beraz, trained by Julie Camacho. The seven year old ran well in better company last year, but was below par here last time out when only fifth at the start of the month. Another Yorkshire based seven year old in the line up would be Ruth Carr's Lord Protector. He would run a blinder in the Zetland Gold Cup last May before competing in strong handicaps through the summer. He was last seen in action at the Ebor Festival and this would be his first try at class four level. This race would see the return of the long-absent Harrappan, now trained by John Butler. The American-bred five year old quickly developed into a promising stayer in 2023 with two wins, but hasn't been seen since a poor run in September of that year. David Simcock is a regular visitor to Newcastle from his Newmarket base and would be represented here by the consistent Charlie's Choice. The five year old was last successful over a mile, but has run well over even longer trips. Saturn Five would be another horse making a belated return to action. Charlie Fellowes's six year old was last seen on track in May 2023 and has a few miles on the clock. Midnight Lion has gone from strength to strength since joining the Jim Goldie stable at the end of last year. The five year old won three times around the New Year before running well in stronger contests and longer distances. The Micky Hammond-trained Value Added was expected to do better as she was bred by the Royal Family, but the six year old has only won once to date. She would make a low key stable debut in February and needed to improve on that showing. The seven year old Simple Star has been a useful dual purpose sort for trainer Dianne Sayer and his latest victory came over hurdles last summer. He would struggle over two and a quarter miles last time out and this trip would be more to his liking. A second runner for the Iain Jardine stable would be Elemental Eye. The four year old finished second on two occasions last season on grass, but remains winless. He would then run moderately on his first attempts at this surface at the start of the year. 

Winner: 

Race Three: The Weekly Free Bets With BetMGM Extra Handicap - Class Five - Six Furlongs - Runners: 7

Next would see the turn of the sprinters with this class five handicap restricted to three year olds. There would be plenty of familiar faces in this contest as the three-year-old program through the winter offers plenty of opportunities.

The weights would be headed by Jennie Candlish's Frankies Dream. The gelding has been in hot form since the turn of the year with four wins in 2025. Two of those wins came over course and distance and would be narrowly denied back here over five furlongs last week. The Kevin Ryan stable often have plenty of success in races like this and would be represented by Platinum Crystal, who comes from a smart family. The filly showed promise in three novice races and looks set to improve now entering handicap company. Another unexposed runner would be the Karl Burke-trained Diamont Katie, who broke her maiden tag at the second attempt last time out. She would do the job nicely that day and looked open to progress. The George Boughey-trained Tolerance travelled up from Newmarket for this contest and is well bred. She has shown inconsistent form to date, but would make her first start since July last year. The Battenberg silks of Ursa Major Racing would be spotted here with the Katie Scott-trained Tarlac. The gelding is bred to win races, but has yet to show his full potential so far. Another former winner here would take her place in the lineup. Laurens Dream won twice at Newcastle towards the end of last year for the Mick Easterby stable and was unlucky on final start when hampered on numerous occasions. The small field would be completed by Grant Tuer's Kitten In The Sky, who was making her all-weather debut. She would show promise when placed in her first two starts, but took a few backward steps when last seen in action.

Winner: 

Race Four: The Win £1m With BetMGM'S Golden Goals Novice Stakes - Class Four - Seven Furlongs - Runners: 6
One of the more interesting races of the evening would be this class four novice race for three year olds and older, as this contest had the potential to produce a very smart sort or two for the future. Novice events at Newcastle are often worth making a note of due to the rising quality of winners. Three years ago, in mid-March, a certain Mostahdaf would make a winning debut before going on to be the best horse in the world in 2023. 

The competitive lineup would be headed by a number of previous winner. The four year old Believe The Storm overcame inexperience on debut in December to finish best of all at Wolverhampton. Charlie Fellowes' gelding comes from a top class distant family too. The next four year old in the field would be Archie Watson's Commanding Force, who is a half brother to none other than Epsom Derby winner Masar. The gelding made a belated start to his career and after a close second on debut, pulled away to win over a mile here last time out. The sole debutant in the line up would be the John Butler-trained gelding Environment. The four year old is bred to be useful, but would be starting out in a potentially hot novice event. The Yorkshire based stable of Adrian Nicholls would saddle Woodrafff in this contest and the four year old has shown a small handful of ability. The gelding is bred for speed, but has raced over this trip and a mile in his two starts so far. Another horse from a well known family would be Sogannie, who made her debut for the Ruth Carr stable. The four year old is a half sister to the yard's legend Bobby Joe Leg, who has numerous of wins at this venue in the past. She would be looking to keep it in the family. The final runner would be a second representative for the David O'Meara yard. The four year old Toralou made a promising debut in 2023 when runner up at Haydock before missing the whole of 2024. She would then make a recent return to action when only fourth behind stablemate Twilight Diamond. 

Winner: 

Race Five: The BetUK: It's Where The UK Bets Handicap - Class Two - Five Furlongs - Runners: 9

The feature race of the evening would be this strongly contested and valuable handicap over six furlongs. This class two handicap will serve as a useful pipe opener for those aiming at spring festivals on turf such as Newmarket, York and Chester, but in the mean time, this prize is worth winning.

The weights would be headed by the very speedy Tees Spirit, lining up for the Adrian Nicholls team. He continued to fly the flag for the yard last year with three wins. In recent starts though, he hasn't been at his best and is surely warming up for the turf. The Jack Channon-trained mare Miss Rebecca showed good handicap form on turf last season and made a winning debut on this surface at Southwell last time out. The five year old remains unexposed on the all-weather and is open to improvement. Another five year old in the field would be Richard Fahey's Prince Of Pillo, who won at listed level a few years ago before his career was interrupted at times. He would return to his best when winning at Lingfield two starts ago but was disappointing last time out. He would drop back to the minimal trip here. The quirky but talented Bergerac has plenty of good form at this venue as his last win came here last June. He would be headed in the closing stages last time out over course and distance. The rapidly progressive Paddy's Day has climbed the ranks this season by winning three times in a row since the New Year. Nigel Tinkler's five year old is a regular at this course and tried his hand in this stronger company. The Paul Midgley stable is often well represented at Newcastle and they would rely on the eight year old Ventura Express in this contest. The gelding has often struggled in this grade, but is more than capable on his day. His latest effort in October would be a fast finishing third and he had the service of Warren Fentiman on board. Another course regular would be the Bryan Smart-trained Buzz Box, who has raced 80% of his career at Newcastle. The four year old has started this year brightly with back to back wins, but would need to step up again in this contest. Anthony Brittain's Mondammej was once unpredictable, but he has mellowed out somewhat and begun to show what he is capable of. The eight year old won four times between November and January and has continued to run well in defeat. The final runner in the lineup would be Mark Usher's Fahrenheit Seven, who was on an upward curve when last seen. The four year old won three times last year in his first season, including at Newcastle over a furlong longer. He is versatile with distance and was open to improvement. 

Winner: