A return to the north-east for a night under the lights at Newcastle on a wet evening of racing. 
The Gosforth Park venue becomes a predominant venue for racing in the north to continue through the winter months after the recent climax of the turf season. With regular meetings every week, there is a race for everyone from the lowest grade to the higher grades. The all-weather track is key to keeping racehorses in shape. 
The evening's racecard looked above average for a Tuesday afternoon in mid-November with a valuable class two handicap and a trio of maiden races featuring some well bred types who had shown distinct promise on their debuts and plenty of interest from down South with numerous Newmaket stables represented.
The first race of the evening was curiously the feature race, a twelve furlong class two handicap for three-year-olds and older. It featured the pair of Dark Jedi and Alright Sunshine who battled in the November Handicap recently, Sir Chauvelin carried in the silks of owner Jimmy Fyffe which are seen so often at Newcastle and the very intriguing Jack Darcy, an unexposed runner for Paul and Oliver Cole. Finishing out the lineup were the Newmarket trained pair of Pirate King for Charlie Fellowes and King Of The South for William Knight.
The maiden race for fillies was split into two divisions and both races looked very interesting for future reference. In the first division, there was plenty of promise shown on debut by Lady Marie, Lady Primrose and Nine Tenths, while Godolphin were represented by Red Maids. The newcomer Holly Blackmore was also well bred and raced for the powerful Northern stable of David O'Meara.
Division two of the fillies' maiden showcased plenty of debutants from Newmarket, making the long trip up north. The eleven-strong field included the likes of Destined, a runner-up on debut, Calluna for Classic winning trainer George Boughey and some intriguing newcomers in the shape of La Traviata for local trainer Rebecca Menzies, Ithra for the Newmarket stable of Alice Haynes and the Nick Bradley Racing-owned Champagny. Most experienced in the field was the Brian Meehan-trained Statu of Liberty who finished third on the last two of four starts.
The final novice event took place over the flying five furlongs. Former winners Mrs U S A and Omniqueen made their return to the track from a layoff and faced the difficult task of the race winner's penalty. Powerful yards from the area were all represented and some yards had multiple entries. Kevin Ryan unveiled his newcomer Silent Words to the racing world, Data Leak and Herakles represented Brian Smart and Brian Ellison also saddled two in the form of Mystical Dreams and Northern Spirit amongst a field of fourteen runners. 
In keeping with the juveniles, the nursery handicap looked competitive. Despite the six runners, it looked a race to keep a close on. The recent winner Champagne Sarah was popular for owners Ursa Major Racing but in opposition were the likes of the consistent Absolute Queen for Middleham Park Racing in a battle of the syndicates. Havana By The Sea was also in the mix, looking to regain the earlier promise she showed in her career. 
Towards the climax of the meeting were a couple of low grade handicaps which featured plenty of regulars, but the final race was worth waiting for. The class four, six furlong handicap for amateur jockeys might not scream desperation for the casual punter to hang around for, but the lineup featured a handful of formerly high class handicappers who are perfect teachers for younger jockeys. The likes of Corinthia Knight, a legend at Pontefract, was running in class two races this time last year, but age has begun to catch up with him. A similar comment for Golden Apollo, once a winner of the Catherine Pavers Memorial Sprint at York as a three-year-old. Recent winners Bellagio Man, Eligible and my namesake Rory took their place in the fourteen-strong field. 

RACE RESULTS
Race One (3:42) - Winner: KING OF THE SOUTH - D. Tudhope - W. Knight - #1 - Kingman x South Atlantic
Just the six runners went to post after the withdrawal of Manu Et Corde, but the race still looked competitive. The zebra coloured headgear of Alright Sunshine cut out the early pace at a modest gallop with the quintet of rivals on his tail. King Of The South travelled smoothly throughout alongside Pirate King while Jack Darcy raced keenly. Entering the final stages, Danny Tudhope let the handbrake off and his mount found plenty, going clear in the final half furlong. He looked comfortable as the pack chased him down and the William Knight trained gelding who made it five wins at the Gosforth Park venue. Pirate King, Sir Chauvelin and Jack Darcy rounded out the top four in a bunched finish.
Race Two (4:12) - Winner: NINE TENTHS - C. Fallon - W. Haggas - #6 - Kodiac x Covetous
A very interesting division to the fillies' maiden with plenty of Newmarket trainers represented by once-raced runners. Inexperience was displayed by a few at the start as fractious fillies were still getting used to the starting stalls. It would be a second win for Newmarket on the night as the William Haggas trained Nine Tenths, a bay filly from the family of very speedy American horse Jealous Again, showed benefit of her eyecatching debut at Doncaster just ten days ago to justify favouritism. Under the commands of Cieren Fallon, Nine Tenths still looked green in the closing stages but responded well and ran all the way to the line, pulling out a growing gap to the runner Cariad Angel. Casamigo stayed on into third after making the early fractions and Lady Primrose, one of those to get worked up at the start, showed yet more promise in fourth; finishing strongly.
Race Three (4:45) - Winner: STATU OF LIBERTY - T. Eaves - B. Meehan - #10 - Washington DC x Mania
Plenty more guessing was required to solve the puzzle of this race, division two of the fillies' maiden. Leading yards were again represented by debutants and others had run a couple of times with midfield finishes. The pack was well grouped in the opening stages and it could have been anyone's race at halfway. Entering the final two furlongs, the once-raced Our Delia quickened into the lead and looked like causing a major upset at odds of 150-1. The Jedd O'Keeffe-trained filly was joined in battle by the experienced Statu Of Liberty and the pair went hammer and tong down the run-in. It was the Brian Meehan-trained Statu Of Liberty who nosed ahead in an exciting finish. She had raced four times previously and used her racing knowledge to good use. The nicely bred Destined claimed third ahead of Ed Walker's Chandeleur Island.
Race Four (5:15) - Winner: HAVANA BY THE SEA - P. Mulrennan - C. Lidster - #1 - Havana Grey x Made Of Talent
Despite the six runners, this nursery handicap looked good on paper. The last time out course and distance winner Champagne Sarah was back to attempt a follow up while Absolute Queen had never finished out of the first three. The class horse in the field was the Craig Lidster-trained Havana By The Sea who would go on to take the second win of her career in emphatic style. The small field meant tactics would be key and the group raced in a diamond formation. As Absolute Queen and My Roxanne made the early running, Champagne Queen and Havana By The Sea were held up. Ridden confidently by Paul Mulrennan, the Beverley winner coasted around the right flank of the group and into contention. A flick of the reins saw Havana By The Sea shoot clear and remind viewers of her potential and ability shown in her first few starts. Cheeky Maxi chased the winner's shadow into second, Champagne Sarah had to settle for third and Foretell took fourth for the Gosdens. 
Race Five (5:45) - Winner: SILENT WORDS - D. Tudhope - K. Ryan - #14 - Zoustar x Thatsallimsaying.
The final novice event of the night saw yet another smart performance by a two-year-old, this time on debut. The market showed confidence in the long absent pair of Mrs U S A and Omniqueen as they returned to the racecourse after a mid summer break. They both had to carry penalties for winning previously and a newcomer filly who made the headlines. A common theme had began to develop of prominent horses being at an advantage and it showed again. The Kevin Ryan newcomer Silent Words tracked the early pace and appeared to know her job straight away. Showing a very smart turn of pace in the final furlong when asked by Dan Tudhope, the daughter of Zoustar put daylight between herself and her rivals before showing greenness in the closing stages. Colnago closed up again but the line came in time for Silent Words. De Bruyne took home third place and an eyecatching debut effort by Keep It Hush into fourth. The winner should go into notebooks for the future as she is a half sister to the Royal Ascot placed Project Dante who also won on his debut.
Race Six (6:15) - Winner: POCKLEY - M. Winn - L. Perratt - #9 - Shalaa x Wanting
The older horses returned to the spotlight as the first of four consecutive handicaps took place. Racing over five furlongs, the class five race saw plenty of familiar names for the grade return to battle again. The likes of Glorious Rio, Primo's Comet, Wrenthorpe and Never Dark, as well as Spoof, who had recently joined the Kevin Frost stable after spending his career at the Charlie Hills stable. The race would go to the well backed Pockley for trainer Linda Perratt. A former winner at Newcastle, he had recently found some form and looked ready to strike on his handicap rating. Always travelling well, Pockley was in the prime position and it was a matter of when not if about winning. Blasting clear in the final furlong, Pockley maintained the gap to his rivals to score under the  ever-impressing jockey Mark Winn. Glorious Rio finished well but it was in vain as he took second while Carlton And Co and Primo's Comet stayed on into third and fourth places. 
Race Seven (6:45) - Winner: EMILY POST - PJ McDonald - E. Bethell - #12 - Charming Thought x Mary Read
The class four handicap over seven furlongs looked an interesting betting heat with not much between the fourteen runners. The field was reduced by one as the edgy Edelbar got worked up in his stall and broke through the front of the gates in a worrying moment. Horse and rider were unscathed and the race got underway. A secondary stalls incident occured as the character Corvair all but refused to leave the stalls and ran his own race miles behind the main group. The lightly raced Emily Post dropped down a step in grade and took advantage for trainer Ed Bethell and jockey PJ McDonald. Plenty of those held up made good progress including Al Baahy and Bin Hayyan into the placings while the remarkable Jack Daniel, a one eyed horse, held on to fourth. 
Race Eight (7:15) - Winner: WHATWOULDYOUKNOW - F. McManoman - N. Tinkler - #4 - Lope De Vega x Holamo
A class six handicap over a mile which featured a mixed bag of ability but was a significant moment in the career of one rider. The pace was considerably strong for the grade and those held up came to the fore for the first time on the night. The market spoke very keenly on the Wilf Storey-trained Going Underground based on a luckless third last time out and once again his running style caused him issues as he repeatedly found his path blocked. The Nigel Tinkler-trained Whatwouldyouknow got a clear passage and took the lead inside the final furlong. The seven-year-old landed the spoils by just over a length to Reclaim Victory in second, a brave run as he was slowly out of the stalls and Run Teddy Run took fourth. It was a significant day for jockey Faye McManoman as she rode her ninety-fifth winner in the saddle which meant she had completed her claiming allowance. Now a professional, the friendly and smiley rider deserves this achievement after a career best season and plenty of support from boss Nigel Tinkler and others. 
Race Nine (7:45) - Winner: ATHOLLBLAIR BOY - E. Dwan - N. Tinkler - #12 - Frozen Power x Ellxell
The final race of a marathon evening at Newcastle ended with another breakthrough win to warm the hearts of those at the track and a second winner in succession for the Malton yard of Nigel Tinkler. The class four amateur jockeys' handicap looked an interesting event as a number of the runners had raced at much higher levels during the peak of their careers. The likes of Golden Apollo, Corinthia Knight and Athollblair Boy had all won tens of races between them and the lineup of jockeys added spice to the mix. The likes of Serena Brotherton, Brodie Hampson and Fern O'Brien were all well known along with promising up and comers in the saddle. The race would also see the best finish of the night as a blanket could have been thrown over the first five horses home. A driving finish between Athollblair Boy, Macho Pride and Bellagio Man thrilled spectators as they crossed the line together with Rory and Blackjack requiring their own photo finish for fourth and fifth. The winning verdict was given to the nine-year-old veteran Athollblair Boy and a winning first ever ride for jockey Emma Dwan. A memorable night for connections and a potential future star from the Tinkler stable following in the footsteps of Faye McManoman.