Dry weather to blame again as Newcastle's Friday card attracts just 31 runners

A lack of rain this month has left Newcastle with fields of just two, four, five, five and five at its jumps meeting on Friday with the ground described as good to firm in places.

The six-race fixture featuring 31 declared runners starts with a match in the maiden hurdle after only two of 17 entries were declared and, bar a ten-runner handicap hurdle, the rest of the card is made up of a four-runner contest and three five-runner races.

Officials are watering the course for the track's second jumps fixture of the season in the hope the going will be good come raceday.

Clerk of the course Jane Hedley said: "It's a symptom of the prevailing weather conditions and people are running out of horses who want that kind of ground. 

"Trainers have been dealing with good ground for quite a few weeks now and there are only so many horses in yards who want those conditions.

"We had our first fixture on October 31 and have had absolutely no rain since. We've had to do some watering this week and by Friday I think we will get it to good ground, but for declarations it was still good to firm in places."

Newcastle is not alone in being affected by the dry weather. Last Friday's fixture at Exeter was decimated by non-runners on account of the ground, with a walkover in the £40,000 novice chase.

Some much-needed rain could arrive at Newcastle next week as the track builds up to the Fighting Fifth Hurdle meeting on November 30, which is due to feature the hugely anticipated return of Constitution Hill.

"We're seeing a more unsettled forecast next week, so hopefully there will be a break and some rain then," said Hedley.

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