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The 2025 Northumberland Plate (Handicap)

I would have called this thread The Pitman's Derby myself, especially with my grandad being a miner local to the area, but I'll let you off, Ian. It's easily done.😂

Edit, Prydwen, a N/R.
 
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I am aware of the "Pitman's Derby"
title, but I always struggled with calling a 2m handicap 4yos+ can run in a "Derby" myself.

Either way, I'm grateful for your clemency.

I see the 16/1 Duke Of Oxford has gone - others must share my view Oxford is a pleasant place to go to for a day out, particularly the greyhound stadium, even if I was once asked to leave by the Stadium Manager following a complaint from the bookmakers! #butthatsanotherstory 😂
 
I can forgive any form of socialist (my definition: heart broadly in the right place), so no worries! 😂

Fellow veterans might disagree, but I actually like the Northumberland Plate (and this meeting generally) more since the AW switch - I'm looking forward to it.
 
I haven't backed the winner of this since the switch to AW.
You can safely draw a line through Dancing in Paris then.
Has a comfortable win over market leader Who's Glen last season + is over a stone better off. Good close 3rd to French Master last time out, who really franked the form last week.
Was going to wait till Thursday, but a jockey has been booked, + he's gone from 40s to 25s.
 
In last years Melrose, Imperial Sovereign gave Too Bossy For Us 9lb and finished a head behind it. He will be 2lb better off on Saturday and is 66/1. Too Bossy For Us best price 7/1. Only problem is IS has gone to Phil Kirby, 1 from 62 on flat this year and no winner on flat for 4 months. TBFU has gone to Willie Mullins.

At first glance Imperial Sovereign (never run over this far) and Intinso (now with Craig Lidster), who has won over course, and 2 of his top 4 RPR’s recorded on Tapeta at Wolverhampton, are the two that jumped out at me. Both 66/1.

Like Robicheaux, I have struggled with this since it has been run on AW and I much preferred the course when it was turf.
 
Robicheaux said:
I haven't backed the winner of this since the switch to AW.
You can safely draw a line through Dancing in Paris then.
Has a comfortable win over market leader Who's Glen last season + is over a stone better off. Good close 3rd to French Master last time out, who really franked the form last week.
Was going to wait till Thursday, but a jockey has been booked, + he's gone from 40s to 25s.
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Matt Brocklebank put him up on the Sporting Life.
 
Yes, but I've spent several nice days in Oxford over the years and that swings it.

Anyway, how many winners have you ridden, Maurice? 😂

Almost as many as Taryn Langley, I guess that's the worry - but I've got faith! 😂
 
Desert Orchid said:
Looks like Duke Of Oxford is carrying a 7lbs penalty (ie a claimer).
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A bit harsh that I think. She is doing quite well and I recall her riding a nice winner on Tides of War at Lingfield at a big price earlier this year. Didn’t panic and got up right on the line.

She is 10 wins from 97 this season. 4 from 15 in races beyond 1m 6f (+£46.25 on level stakes).

I wouldn’t let the jockey put me off, but having backed Duke of Oxford a few times before and been disappointed, I don’t expect to be on on Saturday.
 
Generally speaking, I'd rather have a 7lb claimer in a 2m handicap than a 5f handicap.

The weight counts for more lengths and things aren't happening quite so quickly so inexperienced pilot error is possibly less likely.

I'm fully expecting, with 7lb less to carry, "the Duke" to never come off the bit and Ms Langley to never have to move a muscle, except perhaps for gratuitously giving "the finger," as she celebrates near the line, in the general direction of Scotland. 😂
 
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Ian_Davies said:
Generally speaking, I'd rather have a 7lb claimer in a 2m handicap than a 5f handicap.

The weight counts for more lengths and things aren't happening quite so quickly so inexperienced pilot error is possibly less likely.

I'm fully expecting, with 7lb less to carry, "the Duke" to never come off the bit snd Ms Langley to never have to move a muscle, except perhaps for gratuitously giving "the finger," as she celebrates near the line, in the general direction of Scotland. 😂
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And Ranty, is an anagram of Taryn! 😂
 
I'm in total agreement about claimers in distance races for the reasons you give.

But there's still no room for error in a 20-runner tight handicap, unless you're on one that's got a stone in hand and makes the running.

One of my father's many racing mantras was, 'A 7lbs claimer is a 7lbs penalty.' I was remembering that when I saw the jockey booking.

I've actually just struck my first bet in the race - Golden Rules 8/1. The case shouldn't need making.
 
I always reckoned that a claimer riding a point and go sprinter was less of an issue than in a longer distance race where judgement of pace, getting a horse to settle and strength in a finish is needed on a tiring horse.
 

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