Circus can be a Star attraction in the Plate
AFTER five days of Royal Ascot last week, you might be forgiven for needing a breather from racing, but as always in this game the next big meeting is here in a flash.
This Saturday we look north for Newcastle’s headline Flat meeting of the year, which features the Northumberland Plate (3.15pm).
This competitive staying handicap, traditionally known as the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’, has been won by some high-class horses, including recently when Trueshan lumped a huge 10-stone eight pounds, conceding over a stone and a half to many of his rivals, to victory in 2022.
There might be nothing of that class in this year’s field, but we could see several horses that ran at Ascot back up quickly here.
Current favourite Valiancy was well-backed and finished sixth in the Copper Horse Stakes on the opening day of Ascot, and looks to have been crying out for this step up in trip.
The question is whether he can produce his best in this gruelling test after only 11 days break.
Another worry is he has never raced at Newcastle.
The North East all-weather track doesn’t suit every horse and many just don’t run to their best there, so I’d much rather back horses that are proven there than take a chance on those that aren’t.
Sing Us A Song finished just ahead of Valiancy at Ascot, but is another without experience at Newcastle.
In contrast, the Richard Hughes-trained CIRCUS OF ROME seemed to relish the track when bolting up in a Racing League handicap over a mile-and-a-half last August.
He followed that with a fourth-placed finish behind Valiancy over a mile-and-three-quarters at Haydock, before catching the eye when a close-up sixth behind some strong rivals in a Listed contest at Ascot.
Given two runs over inadequate trips at Goodwood and Sandown this season, he looks to have been plotted out for this race.
I’d kick myself if I didn’t back him and he won, and I’ll be keeping him onside at 6/1.
The other of interest in the feature is Irish raider TRIBAL STAR.
Adrian McGuinness’ five-year-old finished an excellent fourth behind Spirit Mixer in this race last year and has been given a very similar preparation.
Once again, he ran in a valuable handicap over this course and distance back in April, finishing fourth behind Berkshire Sundance, and while 12 months ago he then went on to run at the Curragh, this time he has taken in the Chester Plate before running in that same Curragh race.
As was the case last year, he finished ninth, but it’s not wise to read too much into that and this looks to have been the target again.
He’s got some excellent course form in the book and, just two pounds above last year’s mark, he looks too big a price at 20/1.
DILIGENT HARRY is much happier on the all-weather than on turf and has a brilliant record at Newcastle, including in the Group Three Chipchase Stakes (2.10pm).
He finished third in this race back in 2021 and went two places better last year when making all the running to win under Saffie Osborne, taking his record to three wins from five starts at the track.
A couple of good runs in the Abernant at Newmarket and Minster Stakes at York indicate Clive Cox’s contender is in fine form and should be ready for a bold defence.
Marvelman is a strong rival, but has to prove he can handle dropping back to six furlongs, so course and distance Wiltshire might be the main threat, but for me Diligent Harry is a rock-solid each-way play at 6/1.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Diligent Harry e/w 2.10pm Newcastle
Circus Of Rome e/w 3.15pm Newcastle
Tribal Star e/w 3.15pm Newcastle