Northumberland Plate Contenders Prepare
The Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday features several notable contenders, with trainers expressing optimism for their charges. Among them is Circus Of Rome, trained by Richard Hughes, who has been the subject of significant market support. The four-year-old has a strong record at Gosforth Park, having secured two wins from two previous outings at the venue.
Hughes indicated that the plan for Circus Of Rome to compete in the Northumberland Plate was established last August after a win at Newcastle. He noted that the horse has developed, becoming both better and stronger than in the previous year. While acknowledging the horse’s strong market backing, Hughes mentioned that he was somewhat surprised by the extent of the support.
The trainer also addressed the challenge of the two-mile distance for Circus Of Rome, noting that the horse successfully covered a mile and six furlongs as a three-year-old. Recent runs were strategically chosen to prepare the horse for the longer distance, with a recent outing at Sandown aimed at providing a necessary gallop.
Other Key Runners and Strategies
Another horse drawing attention for the Northumberland Plate is Team Player, trained by Ewan Whillans. Jonathan Doidge, a racing correspondent, has selected Team Player as a strong contender. The four-year-old is set to race with cheekpieces and a tongue-tie for the first time, a combination that Whillans hopes will aid performance. Team Player previously finished fifth in the Chester Cup and has shown improvement in his three starts since joining Whillans.
Team Player also boasts course and distance form, which could be an advantage on the surface at Newcastle. His current handicap mark of 92 is considered favourable, especially following his recent effort at Chester where he was beaten by less than three lengths despite not having the smoothest run.
In addition to the main event at Newcastle, there are other races at York drawing interest. For the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Mile Handicap at York, Zennor Storm, trained by William Haggas, is noted as a less exposed runner with potential. Despite finishing last in his two previous starts this season, the gelding has been gelded since, which is hoped will help him focus and improve.
The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dash Handicap at York features Schrodinger’s Cat, who recently won a race at Redcar. This horse is considered to have plenty of pace and is expected to perform well despite an 8lb increase in weight. For the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sprint Handicap, Invincible Boy, a three-year-old colt trained by the Faheys, is highlighted. He showed promise on his debut at York and later secured a win at Pontefract, suggesting potential for further improvement from his initial handicap mark of 82.
Trainer Insights and Preparations
Roger Varian’s Ride The Thunder is another four-year-old in strong form for the Northumberland Plate. According to Billy Jackson-Stops, racing manager for Victorious Racing, confidence is high for Ride The Thunder, who is progressive and well-positioned in the handicap. The horse’s ability to handle the two-mile trip is also a positive, with previous runs indicating he can maintain pace over distance.
Brian Ellison, a previous winner of the Northumberland Plate, has two entries this year: Saint Etienne and Tashkhan. While Tashkhan‘s preference for the all-weather surface is yet to be fully proven, Saint Etienne‘s form, including a fourth-place finish at York over a mile and a half, suggests he could be competitive if he stays the two-mile distance. George Scott’s Prydwen, an eight-year-old, also returns to Newcastle, a track he is known to favour, though he carries top-weight.
The preparations for these horses reflect careful planning by their trainers, with specific races and training adjustments made to optimise their chances in the upcoming events on Saturday.
Read Also
Source: sportinglife.com
You may also like
Joel Kavanagh is a Sports News Writer at News-GB. He started on a Midlands sports desk. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from De Montfort University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Leicester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight calendar. “In sport news, the first ten minutes decide everything.”