A little preview I did so may as well post it here to kick off the thread.
As well as being one of the richest handicaps in the modern day world, The Northumberland Plate holds a special place in the hearts of racing enthusiasts especially in the Northeast. The staying contest was first held in the 1833 and soon became known as the Pitmen’s Derby, as it established itself as an important race in the lives of local miners.
My grandfather Tommy Haskin, a pitmen miner who lived in an old mining village in the area of Gosforth, sadly wasn’t born soon enough to witness the first ever winner, Tomboy in 1833, and unfortunately for him, passed away too soon to witness double winning Northumberland Plate winner, Tominator, in 2011 and 2013. I reckon he would have backed both!
The 2018 renewal will be only the third running on the all-weather Tapeta surface.
At this early stage, some three weeks before off time with around a hundred horses entered, the showcase handicap has attracted some notable entries, which includes the Tony Bloom owned, 2017 Ceserewitch winner and anti-post favourite, Withhold.
Last year’s Plate victor, Higher Power, bids for back-to-back victories, whilst The Derby winning Godolphin team will look to go one better this time around with Natural Scenery, who finished a solid second to the aforementioned Higher Power last year.
One lesser known horse that may have a bright future is the Seamus Durack trained Cayirli, currently quoted at 33/1 in the anti-post betting.
He was a consistent three year old in France, that never finished out of the places in five starts, before leaving J-C Rouget’s yard for England.
In his first season here, he finished second in The Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot, where he ran the race of his life, trying to make all, only to get collared near the finish.
He was subsequently off the track for 537 days, but reappeared in 2018 to win at Kempton on the all weather, at huge odds of 50/1, where he beat a good yardstick in Curbyourenthusiasm.
After this excellent comeback he ran disappointingly in The Chester Cup on his second start, but maybe that was the bounce factor.
He should be forgiven for that one poor run. He is an interesting outsider at this juncture.
As well as being one of the richest handicaps in the modern day world, The Northumberland Plate holds a special place in the hearts of racing enthusiasts especially in the Northeast. The staying contest was first held in the 1833 and soon became known as the Pitmen’s Derby, as it established itself as an important race in the lives of local miners.
My grandfather Tommy Haskin, a pitmen miner who lived in an old mining village in the area of Gosforth, sadly wasn’t born soon enough to witness the first ever winner, Tomboy in 1833, and unfortunately for him, passed away too soon to witness double winning Northumberland Plate winner, Tominator, in 2011 and 2013. I reckon he would have backed both!
The 2018 renewal will be only the third running on the all-weather Tapeta surface.
At this early stage, some three weeks before off time with around a hundred horses entered, the showcase handicap has attracted some notable entries, which includes the Tony Bloom owned, 2017 Ceserewitch winner and anti-post favourite, Withhold.
Last year’s Plate victor, Higher Power, bids for back-to-back victories, whilst The Derby winning Godolphin team will look to go one better this time around with Natural Scenery, who finished a solid second to the aforementioned Higher Power last year.
One lesser known horse that may have a bright future is the Seamus Durack trained Cayirli, currently quoted at 33/1 in the anti-post betting.
He was a consistent three year old in France, that never finished out of the places in five starts, before leaving J-C Rouget’s yard for England.
In his first season here, he finished second in The Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot, where he ran the race of his life, trying to make all, only to get collared near the finish.
He was subsequently off the track for 537 days, but reappeared in 2018 to win at Kempton on the all weather, at huge odds of 50/1, where he beat a good yardstick in Curbyourenthusiasm.
After this excellent comeback he ran disappointingly in The Chester Cup on his second start, but maybe that was the bounce factor.
He should be forgiven for that one poor run. He is an interesting outsider at this juncture.
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