TEMPLEGATE takes on Saturday’s big race confident of finding you the winner.
Our man has pored over every runner and rider in the cracker from Newcastle and delivered his verdict below.
The Northumberland Plate is one of the big handicap clashes of the season
Before that, though, he goes through the whole field reviewing every horse in the race.
Don’t forget you can back any one of them simply by clicking their odds below. Good luck!
Northumberland Plate runners and riders
TRUESHAN 3
TRUE story. World-class Group 1 winning stayer who is on a different level to these. But he needs soft ground, was only sixth in this last year and has to give lumps of weight away. Could hit the frame on quality alone.
RED VERDON 1
RED light. Stays well but on long losing run and showed little at Royal Ascot last time. High in weights.
RAJINSKY 4
SKY high. Third in this last year and filled same spot in Chester Cup last time. Up weights but has top claimer on board and must go close.
ALRIGHT SUNSHINE 3
SUN shines. Solid staying form and good effort at Royal Ascot last time. Has run well here before and has an each-way chance.
RAINBOW DREAMER 3
DREAM alive. Has improved since 15th in this 12 months ago and solid fifth in Sagaro here latest. Needs more but can’t be ruled out.
ISLAND BRAVE 3
BRAVE choice. Fair form in Dubai group races but has been below par on turf this season. Will be happier back over this course and distance.
BANDINELLI 4
NELLI welly. Not fired on turf this season but did well over this sort of trip on the sand at Kempton and looks on a fair mark. Right in the hunt here.
SPIRIT MIXER 3
STRONG Spirit. Landed hat-trick before modest run at Chester when this trip may have stretched him. Has more to offer and yard in good form.
THEMAXWECAN 2
MAX out. Stays well and only 1lb above last win. Has struggled this season though so best watched.
TRIBAL ART 2
ART attack. Regular winner at lower level and decent run in Ascot Stakes latest. Can’t be dismissed off the same mark.
SUMMER’S KNIGHT 4
KNIGHT fantastic. Rusty fifth on comeback after promise last season, including over 1m6f. Should last home, comes from top trainer of stayers and looks on a fair weight. Will have been laid out for this.
PIRATE KING 1
PIRATE shipped. Not won for 18 months and goes beyond 1m4f for the first time here. Lots of questions to answer.
WHO DARES WINS 2
DARE to back him. Won this off 6lb higher in 2019 but struggled last Flat season and didn’t score over hurdles this winter. Liking for trip and track is respected but he’s getting on a bit.
GOLDEN FLAME 2
FLAME blown out. Found 2m4f too far in Ascot Stakes after a good Haydock run. Still 5lb above last win so needs to find a bit more.
ONESMOOTHOPERATOR 4
SMOOTH customer. Yet to win beyond 1m3f but has run well last two over this course and distance. Fair run in York Listed last time and big each-way player.
GRAPHITE 2
GRAPH papered. Solid form over shorter and handled all-weather well at Kempton last time. Not a certain stayer and this looks tougher.
VALLEY FORGE 5
FORGE clear. Game win over this trip at Haydock last time and 4lb rise looks fair. Has few miles on clock and he’s bred to enjoy the AW surface. Big chance.
SIR CHAUVELIN 3
PLEASE Sir. First ran in this in 2017 and has been placed in it twice but was last 12 months ago. At veteran stage now but has come down weights.
UBER COOL 1
UBER cold. Fair form at lower levels but struggled back on the sand at Kempton last time. Hard to fancy.
SOLENT GATEWAY 1
SO what. Has won over similar trip but likes soft ground on turf so surface should be too lively.
Templegate tip
VALLEY FORGE can go clear in the Northumberland Plate (3.30 Newcastle, nap).
He relished stepping up to this trip when scoring at Haydock and has more to offer as a stayer.
Bandinelli will be much happier back on the all-weather and is a danger along with Rajinsky and Sir Mark Prescott hope Summer’s Knight and the well-backed course winner Onesmoothoperator.
Trueshan is easily the best horse in the race but he’s likely to find the ground too lively.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.sportingexcitement.com/horse-racing/frankie-dettori-set-for-showdown-talks-with-john-gosden-today-after-flying-back-from-seeing-his-dad-in-sardinia/
