Friday, June 28, 2013

Northumberland Plate 2013

Some old favourites line up for this year's renewal of the John Smith's Northumberland Plate including Tominator, successful in 2011, Blue Bajan and Ile De Re who carried 9-03 to victory last year, holding Crackentorp half a length.

That was a notable performance, particularly on heavy ground; Ile De Re became only the fourth horse in the past 20 years to carry more than 9-0 to victory (the others being Bold Gait 9-10 1995, Celeric 9-04 1996, Bangalore 9-05 2002) and just the second favourite to oblige in the past decade.

The draw is key - it's important to secure a decent pitch early on; lower numbered stalls are more highly prized although Overturn won from berth 21 in 2010 and Tominator from stall 14 the following year.

Richard Fahey's pair Address Unknown and Ingleby Spirit finished first and second from good draws in the Chester Cup last month but are drawn 15 and 18 respectively for tomorrow's event.

I usually select an animal with jumps form for this marathon.

Alan King's Ardlui catches the eye and has been well-touted. The gelding missed a Royal Ascot engagement for this (a bonus) while The Betchworth Kid ran seventh for the stable last year; having said that, he has his share of weight to carry.

John Quinn's yard is in reasonable form at the moment. Moidore was well beaten behind Ardlui on his penultimate start at Ripon but next time ran six lengths second to Well Sharp at York conceding two pounds; that one franked the form in no uncertain terms by going on to win the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Moidore looks likely to appreciate any rain that might arrive and is the each-way suggestion at around the 12/1 mark.

2 comments:

GeeDee said...

Moidore (17/2) raced mid-division but was somewhat outpaced two form home; he stayed on for sixth but failed to trouble the principals.

Tominator (8/1) defied top weight to pip Mark Johnson's Oriental Fox (20/1) a short head on the line and in doing so became the first horse since Tug Of War (1977, 1978) to win two Northumberland Plates.

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