Newcastle on Today's meeting at Newcastle, featuring the John Smith's Northumberland Plate, has been given the go-ahead following an inspection. The biggest card of the year at Gosforth Park has beaten the elements after torrential rain hit the course on Thursday. The fixture that day was cut short after just four races as torrential rain and lightning hit the course. Friday's scheduled evening meeting was then cancelled. Clerk of the course James Armstrong expressed his relief, telling Channel 4 Racing: "Thankfully it's very good news. Since yesterday morning when we had some sharp showers, it has remained dry and breezy. "We had a stiff wind from the south west which brought warm air and it's saved the day. Thankfully we're going ahead. "Needless to say it's heavy ground, but we've had an inspection. Jockey PJ McDonald came out to help us out and he's happy to race. We're going ahead which is a relief to all of us."
