Sunday’s meeting at Newcastle Racecourse will feature an eight-race all-weather programme bringing together runners across handicap and novice company over distances ranging from five furlongs to extended staying trips. The fixture is set to provide varied tests for sprinters, middle-distance performers, and stamina specialists competing through the afternoon card.
Proceedings will begin at 1:42pm and continue into the early evening, with field sizes ranging from six to twelve runners. The programme offers opportunities for developing runners as well as experienced campaigners seeking favourable winter conditions on the Tapeta surface.
THE NEXT GENERATION HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 6) will open the meeting at 1:42PM, run over 1m 2f 42y, and offer £7,200 in prize money. A field of twelve runners will compete in the opener, and the contest is expected to suit horses capable of settling early before delivering a sustained challenge in the closing stages.
The second race, THE MOVE HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 5), will take place at 2:12PM over 2m 56y with £8,400 on offer. Six runners are expected to line up, and the longer distance will place clear emphasis on stamina and race positioning throughout the journey.
Middle-distance performers will then feature in THE MOVEMENT HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 6) DIVISION I, scheduled for 2:42PM, contested over 1m 4f 98y for £7,200. Nine runners are expected, and the race should reward those able to conserve energy before finishing strongly in the long straight.
At 3:12PM, the DIVISION II will be staged over the same 1m 4f 98y distance, again offering £7,200 in prize money. Another field of nine runners is scheduled, with a similar tactical pattern anticipated as runners aim to produce late finishing efforts.
The programme will continue at 3:42PM with THE CLASSIFIED STAKES (CLASS 6) over 1m 5y for £6,600, attracting ten runners suited to mile racing on the all-weather surface, where maintaining rhythm around the circuit often proves decisive.
Speed will then come into focus in THE HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 5) at 4:12PM, run over 7f 14y with £8,400 in prize money. Eight runners are expected to compete in what should prove a competitive contest favouring horses capable of sustaining strong cruising speed throughout.
The afternoon’s highest-class race arrives at 4:42PM with THE RESTRICTED NOVICE STAKES (CLASS 4) staged over 1m 5y for £10,000, where nine runners are expected to line up. The race offers developing performers an opportunity to progress in competitive company.
The meeting will conclude at 5:12PM with THE HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 6) over 5f, again offering £7,200, where ten runners are due to contest a sharp sprint to close the programme.
Across the card, trainers will aim to place runners to advantage across differing trip demands, making the Sunday fixture an important mid-February engagement within the winter racing calendar.
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