1:40 Newcastle
The opener on ITV comes from Newcastle and it is a trappy 6f handicap.
I like DURHAM CASTLE (4/1) NAP in this, who was a decent winner when we last saw him down at Windsor last week. He came forward a decent chunk for his seasonal reappearance and did impress when finishing strongly to win at Windsor. He was strongly fancied in the market and connections were confident he’d improved for that outing. The 4-year-old is still completely unexposed, and I think he has the potential to really exploit this current handicap mark. A 4lb rise for that win last time out looks more than fair and he can win again.
1:55 York
Next up, we head over to York for the 1:5,5 which is a mile handicap.
It is SHAMROCK BAY (20/1) EW I like. 2 from 2 aged 3, he has shown plenty of promise winning at Yarmouth on debut before following up again at Nottingham. He returned to action this season again at Nottingham and the market suggested he’d need the run, which proved to be the case. He took a big step forward for that outing when finishing a close second last time out at Chelmsford. That was a decent handicap on paper, and it was a fine effort on just his 4th career start. I don’t think we’ve got to the bottom of him yet, and I think he’s shown more than enough to suggest this mark of 85 is workable.
2:10 Newcastle
The 2:10 race is the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes over 6f.
I’d be happy to take on favourite Kind Of Blue at the prices, and I like the Jack Channon charge FERROUS (13/2) EW as an alternative. He comes into this race in career-best form, winning his last three starts in competitive handicaps. He impressed here at Newcastle last time out over this trip, and he appears to have been put away for this contest since. In career-best form and clearly thriving, he holds solid claims at this level and he’s the one I like. He looks sure to run his race.
2:25 York
We head to York again for the 2:25 race. It is the Criterion Stakes. A Group 3 contest over 7 furlongs.
It’s hard to get away from LAKE FOREST (6/4) in this, off the back of his fine effort in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes last week at Royal Ascot. He wasn’t beaten far in 5th there, and coming from off the pace was a difficult task given how slow they went early. A fast 7f on a decent surface looks his optimum, and he should get that today here at York. It’s a significant drop in class, and you’d be disappointed if he wasn’t winning this before stepping back up in class.
2:40 Newcastle
The 2:40 from Newcastle is the Northumberland Vase Handicap. It is a consolation race for those who didn’t qualify for the Plate.
The one for me is GODSEND (5/1), who is a typical Sir Mark Prescott improver, and he can go a lot higher than his current mark of 87. A winner on his last four starts, he’s certainly appreciated a handicap and a step up in trip. This race looks ideal for him as he will sit handy from a decent draw of stall 3 before jockey Luke Morris will look to kick on as they turn in. He looks all stamina, and it’ll take a good one to go by him off this lenient mark.
3:00 York
The 3:00 from York is the Dash Handicap over the minimum 5f trip.
It’s REGAL ENVOY (4/1) for me. The William Knight charge can’t put a foot wrong at present, winning 5 of his last 7 starts. The form of his last win has worked out well with the third since winning a competitive handicap at Royal Ascot. Regal Envoy likes to sit handy and here at York on a quick surface, it can often favour those that race prominently. I don’t see why he can’t continue on his upward curve and go close again today under similar tactics.
3:15 Newcastle
The final race, live from Newcastle, is the feature, the Northumberland Plate. It is a competitive handicap over the extended 2m trip.
I’m expecting a big run from top-weight ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (11/1) EW in this. The 2024 winner of this contest, where he won it in pretty decisive fashion, I see no reason why he can’t go close again over a course and distance he clearly relishes. He comes here fit and well having had three runs over in Meydan earlier in the campaign. The last of those was his best effort a where he finished 5th over an inadequate trip at Group 3 level. Connections will have had this race in mind now for a while and I think last year’s winner can hit the frame again at the very least.
3:45 Newmarket
The final race is a 7f handicap from HQ.
The one for me is NATIVE WARRIOR (5/1). He finished a respectable 9th in the Lincoln on reappearance and then went to Windsor last time out as a well-fancied favourite. He ended up finishing second and appeared to be running around a bit, not making life easy for jockey James Doyle. It’s no surprise to see connections reach for the visor here and they can hopefully help him concentrate. He comes here off the same mark of 92 and the potential is there for him to be a lot better than that. I’ll take my chance the visor has a positive effect.
Free Bet Offers for Northumberland Plate Day
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