An exciting evening of all-weather racing is set to take place at Newcastle Racecourse on Thursday, 12 March, where a competitive nine-race card will run from 3:48pm through to 8:15pm. The fixture features a mixture of handicaps, classified contests and a maiden race, with prize money ranging from £6,000 to £10,000 across the programme. Sprint races over five and six furlongs combine with longer middle-distance events to create a varied schedule for horses, trainers and jockeys throughout the evening on the Tapeta surface.
The meeting begins at 3:48pm with The Midnite: Built For 2026 Not 2006 Handicap Stakes, a Class 6 sprint over six furlongs featuring ten runners competing for £6,000. Speed will be key in this opening contest as the runners aim to make a strong start to the card.
Race two is scheduled for 4:28pm with The Midnite Ain’t Your Grandad’s Bookie Classified Stakes. This Class 6 contest brings together a field of twelve runners over a distance of 1m 2f 42y and offers £6,000 in prize money. The race is expected to suit horses with stamina and tactical positioning in the middle-distance trip.
The third race of the evening, The Midnite A Next Generation Handicap Stakes, takes place at 5:08pm. Run over 1m 4f 98y, this Class 5 handicap features ten runners battling for a prize fund of £7,100, making it one of the more valuable early races on the programme and a test of endurance for the participating runners.
At 5:45pm, the evening’s feature contest, The Golden Goals Restricted Maiden Stakes, will be run over 7f 14y with a competitive field of twelve runners vying for the £10,000 prize fund. Among the runners is Portman Blue (GB), ridden by Kyle McHugh, a three-year-old gelding who arrives with form figures of 21 and will be aiming to build on that encouraging start. Blue Mantle (GB), partnered by Jason Hart, is a three-year-old colt representing trainer Charlie Johnston and owners Kingsley Park 42, carrying 9st with form figures of 299.
Clonquest (GB) will be ridden by William Pyle claiming three pounds for trainers David and Nicola Barron and owner Ms Colette Twomey, while Cotai Eye Joe (IRE), a three-year-old gelding with form figures of 23, lines up under Oisin Orr for trainer Ivan Furtado and the URSA Major Racing and Alfa Site Services partnership. Kode Grey (IRE), ridden by Sean Kirrane for trainer Tim Easterby and The Wolf Pack 2 and Partner, has form figures of 15, while Shimmering Spirit (IRE), a three-year-old gelding with form figure 6, is partnered by Faye McManoman for trainer Nigel Tinkler and THE OLLIERS & D Jenkins & Partner.
Also in the line-up is Henry Halflight (IRE), ridden by Billy Garritty, carrying 8st 12lbs for trainer Liam Bailey and Foulrice Park Racing Limited with form figures of 24. Tekitoff (GB), partnered by Amie Waugh claiming three pounds, represents trainer Mark Walford and the Mark Walford Racing Club and brings form figures of 231. Supreme Lillia (GB), a three-year-old filly with form figures of 109, will be ridden by Rowan Scott for trainer Gemma Tutty and owners Paul Demilow & Partner.
Wagyu Star (GB), with form figures of 127, is ridden by James Sullivan for the training partnership of John and Sean Quinn and The New Century Partnership. Wee Dresser (GB), partnered by Greg Fairley for trainer Katie Scott and L & L Racing and Partner, carries 8st 7lbs, while Wheres Veneker (GB) completes the field under Duran Fentiman for trainer Tim Easterby and owner Mr M. J. Macleod. The maiden contest is expected to provide a strong test for these three-year-olds seeking their first career success.
The fifth race at 6:15pm is The Handicap Stakes, a sharp five-furlong sprint with six runners in a Class 6 contest worth £6,000. With a small but competitive field, early pace and positioning are expected to play a decisive role.
Race six follows at 6:45pm with The Midnite Handicap Stakes. This Class 4 race covers six furlongs and offers £9,500 in prize money, attracting a strong field of eleven runners and marking one of the more competitive sprints on the card.
Just half an hour later at 7:15pm, the seventh race—also titled The Midnite Handicap Stakes—takes place under identical conditions. Another Class 4 six-furlong sprint with eleven runners and £9,500 at stake, it provides a second high-quality sprint opportunity for contenders on the evening.
The penultimate race at 7:45pm is The Make The Move To Midnite Classified Stakes. Nine runners will contest this Class 6 five-furlong dash for £6,000, where quick acceleration out of the gates could prove decisive.
The meeting concludes at 8:15pm with The Handicap Stakes. This Class 6 contest features twelve runners over 7f 14y and carries a prize fund of £6,000, bringing the evening’s racing to a competitive finish.
With nine races covering a variety of distances and classes, Thursday evening’s meeting at Newcastle promises an engaging night of all-weather racing, highlighted by competitive handicaps and a valuable maiden contest that could showcase emerging talent.
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