This Saturday’s ITV Racing action is centred around five races from Newcastle headlined by Gosforth Park’s historic staying handicap, the Northumberland Plate (3.15) and ably supported by three contests from York’s Knavesmire including the Group 3 Criterion Stakes over 7f (2.25).
All three of our selections run on the tapeta at the north east track and they include a Group 1 winner stepping down in class, a representative of a yard that knows a thing or two about Newcastle staying handicaps and a very lightly raced eight-year-old.
Chipchase favourite a decent price on Group 1 class
William Haggas has won the last three runnings of the Chipchase Stakes (2.10) so the Somerville Lodge handler’s Unequal Love has to be of interest to extend the yard’s streak at an each-way price.
However, this year’s race looks to be at the mercy of KIND OF BLUE, whose Group 1 class is beyond doubt after he avenged his short-head second to Montassib in last season’s Haydock Sprint Cup by landing the Ascot’s top flight Champions Sprint on his final three-year-old start.
He’s available at north of evens here, but only because he finished 9/9 on his seasonal return in a Chantilly Group 3. There’s plenty of excuses for that effort given it was his first race abroad, his first try over the minimum trip (5f) and he missed the start after rearing in the stalls.
Returning to 6f here, likely more race fit and less fresh, he’s 4lbs ahead of the field on official ratings and should be able to make his class count.
2.10 Newcastle - Kind Of Blue to win
@ 5/4
Yard’s Plate record points to big run in consolation race
Roger Charlton had a phenomenal history in the Northumberland Plate from a select group of runners prior to handing over the licence to his son Harry in 2023.
Charlton senior’s record since the turn of the millennium reads 2-1-1 from just three runners, with Quest For More (2015) and Withhold (2018) winners and 2000 silver medallist Temple Way beaten just a neck.
The current master of Beckhampton house’s TRYFAN is rated too low for a shot at improving the yard’s great resumé in the Pitman’s Derby, but looks to have an excellent chance of benefitting from the family know how in the consolation race – the Northumberland Vase (2.40).
Tryfan has a win and a neck second to his name from two runs over an extended 1m4f at Newcastle last term and proved his aptitude for staying further when scoring over 1m6f at Salisbury last time out. That should tee him up nicely for this.
2.40 Newcastle - Tryfan to win
@ 6/1
Newcastle: Lightly-raced ‘veteran’ can make good on 2022 near miss
It’s been fairly congested at the top of the betting for the Northumberland Plate (3.15) in the week leading up to the race, with not much between Who’s Glen and East India Dock in the market.
Their claims are obvious, but just a fraction further down the bookies’ lists GOLDEN RULES has a very likeable profile for the race. An eight-year-old, he’s run just nine times under rules and only once since finishing half a length second off 4lbs higher in the 2022 running despite suffering trouble in running.
His sole outing since came on his seasonal return at Kempton in March and he ran well for a long way before fading to finish fourth behind none other than Who’s Glen.
Thomas Faulkner’s gelding is entitled to come on for that run and is weighted to go very close to atoning for his near miss two years ago.
3.15 Newcastle - Golden Rules to win
@ 8/1
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