One of the big staying handicaps of the season, the Northumberland Plate is one of the most cherished all-weather prizes. Matty Sutcliffe has had an early look at the race and come up with three selections, including one each at 66/1 and 100/1…
Sam Hawkins 20/1 1pt WIN
The Northumberland Plate is a race that’s eluded William Haggas in his illustrious roll of honours, but he had the well backed Nathanael Greene finish fourth in the 2023 renewal having been caught awfully far back and his sole entrant this time is SAM HAWKINS, who recorded a smart time here last time out over 1m4f.
The Galileo gelding has been a touch underwhelming throughout his nine raced career, after landing a Salisbury novice in good fashion, but he ran an excellent race on debut for William Haggas last August in the Shergar Cup Classic when given too much to do, staying on in the manner of one requiring further.
He was gelded in the winter having disappointed at Haydock when a 11/5F and after an encouraging run at Ripon on debut, he won going away at Newcastle on his first attempt on the all-weather, in the manner of one whom the penny has dropped for.
That was a career best RPR, and although the second didn’t back up the form next time out, he took his record on turf to 0-5 there. The six length third, however, finished a length behind Caballo De Mar next time out who’s the current favourite for this contest, and the fourth was only just touched off in a competitive class two at Goodwood.
While the dam-side doesn’t bode well for a further step up in trip, it hardly bodes well for 1m4f but he was only just getting going a furlong out the last day having travelled strongly throughout. He’s entered at Hamilton on Sunday but he’d still have enough time to come here should they wish to, and if turning up then this improving son of Galileo would be carrying a featherweight, and a race of this nature would suit his strong travelling nature.
Laafy 66/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
Last year’s winning trainer Brian Ellison has four entered in his bid for back to back renewals of the Northumberland Plate, but both Hardy Bloke and Bulldog Spirit likely won’t make it in off their marks and last years victor, Onesmoothoperator, is 8lbs higher this time around which will make life difficult, and another career best would be required.
His final entry, LAAFY, I likely to get in off a mark of 89 and rates a very interesting candidate on his third start for the Ellison yard. The Noble Mission gelding is long in the tooth now at the age of nine, but he had four years off the track prior to making his debut for Brian Ellison having been bought by him last year for 27,000 GNS from Sir Michael Stoute’s yard and while’s his debut was as could be expected from such a layoff, he ran an excellent race next time out in the Musselburgh Queen’s Cup to be beaten five lengths into eight at 100/1 in first time cheekpieces.
He had the largest stride length and hit the quickest top speed in the field there in what was a slowly run affair to suggest he retains his former high class ability, and its plausible to suggest that after such a layoff he wouldn’t have been finely tuned for those contests.
He was rated 104 in his prime for Sir Michael Stoute after landing an Ascot Class Two off top weight, so given he’s 15lbs lower, he’s worth a tentative play at large odds providing he can back up that Musselburgh effort.
All In You 100/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
If Laafy wasn’t speculative enough, then ALL IN YOU should whet the appetite. I’ve slightly less optimism that he’ll turn up here than Laafy perhaps hence the price, as he’s entered in the Ascot Stakes eleven days earlier with Tom Queally jocked up. That said, Call The Name was second in the Ascot Stakes in 2023 before going on to land the Northumberland Plate which bodes well in that respect.
I’m happy to take the 100s at this stage as I think All In You could be a well handicapped animal on that flat and if running well in the Ascot Stakes and coming here, the price will be long gone. The Maxwell owned son of Triple Threat is two from three on the level, having won on debut prior to returning to the level after form figures of 141 over hurdles to land a 1m7f conditions stakes at Longchamp by a length, pulling eight lengths clear of the third. The second has subsequent form figures off 221371413 with the ‘7’ coming in the G1 Prix Royal Oak when seemingly amiss, but his form includes a third in G3 company, a Listed win, a 5L 4th in the valuable Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh, a G3 win, and a 3L 3rd in G1 company.
On that form alone, All In You could be thrown in off a mark of 91, for all his three starts for connections after that admittedly fell off. He switched to the Gary and Josh Moore yard this season and from a 117 day layoff he ran a solid race in a 0-130 at Newbury to finish a four length fifth, recording his best efforts over hurdles yet.
If All In You can transfer that, and his earlier form back to the flat, then he could make up in to a smart dual purpose horse for connections given his unexposed nature. He’s a half brother to three winners on the all-weather from an American dam-line which bodes well for his first attempt on the surface and with stamina seemingly assured, he rates a worthy contender at the prices should they take up the entry.
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