Newcastle fixture ushers in new era

Norton-based trainer Brian Ellison (Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire).

Trainers from the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland are supporting the landmark meeting that has attracted 105 runners for eight races.

Horses will race on a Tapeta surface pioneered by legendary Yorkshire trainer Michael Dickinson and his wife Joan.

Though some Yorkshire yards would have preferred the first all-weather surface to have been installed at Catterick, Newcastle’s floodlit course will spare them even lengthier journeys to Southwell, Wolverhampton, Kempton and Lingfield.

Newcastle-born Brian Ellison is due to send seven runners from his Norton base near Malton, and said: “The surface is very good. It rides really well.

“I wouldn’t say I was sending a strong team but we’ve got plenty of runners there. There’s plenty of prize-money on offer.

“If I had to pick one of mine, I’d say Top Of The Glas would be my best chance.”

His sentiments were backed by Richard Fahey, who took a team of horses for the successful trials held on the track earlier this month.

“Exciting times,” said the Malton handler, who has three runners today.

“The surface is a bit slow and will take a time to bed in.

“It will probably be better in a few weeks. We certainly need an all-weather track in the North.”

Fahey is still trying to find out why Birchwood ran so badly in the French 2000 Guineas at Deauville on Sunday.

The Godolphin-owned colt, racing for the first time since finishing third in America’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last October, finished last behind The Gurkha in the Classic.

“He’s fine, but he never ran a race at all,” said the trainer.

As for the Aidan O’Brien-trained The Gurkha, his emphatic victory has seen the Ballydoyle colt named as the new ante-post favourite for next month’s Epsom Derby.

Even though the horse holds a Derby entry unlike some of the main protagonists, O’Brien cited the one-mile St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, and 10-furlong French Derby, as possible alternatives.

“We’ll let the dust settle for a week or 10 days and then we’ll see,” he said.

Roger Charlton’s Quest For More, winner of last season’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle, is entered for Saturday’s Weddingmates.co.uk Grand Cup at York.

So Mi Dar, runaway winner of York’s Musidora Stakes last week, is out of the Epsom Oaks. Trainer John Gosden says the filly, ridden by Frankie Dettori, is lame.