After part one of our runner-by-runner guide to the Northumberland Plate yesterday, here is part two, covering the bottom half of the field. Read our thoughts, alongside 888sport‘s exclusive sign-up offer of Bet £10 and Claim £40 In Bet Bonuses.
Summer’s Knight (Sir Mark Prescott, Luke Morris) 12/1
Made hay in typical fashion for this yard, as he found his feet over long distances. Rated just 63 last June, the son of Camelot won five of his next seven races, shooting up 34lb in the handicap. He clearly stays supremely and so the step up to 2m should be no issue for him. Only run on the all-weather was as a juvenile over 7f, so that can easily be discounted, though there may be a slight concern as to whether he has reached his ceiling. Was well-held on reappearance, but profile suggests he needed the run and could easily progress again.
Pirate King (Charlie Fellowes, Cam Hardie) 28/1
Three previous runs over marathon distances did not result in any challenge, but Charlie Fellowes’ charge may be worth another go at them now. Has failed to win since last January, though he is now 1lb below that mark. Nevertheless, while he has been competitive on the all-weather since, he is not one who jumps off the page as a likely winner and needs more to feature.
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Who Dares Wins (Alan King, Saffie Osborne) 25/1
One of the most versatile horses in recent years, who won this race back in 2019. Also a Grade 2 winner over fences, as well as a Royal Ascot scorer. Possibly slightly better on the all-weather than turf on the level, with a runner-up effort at Wolverhampton last February reading very well in this context. However, form in handicaps has taken a dive since and difficult to fancy in the twilight of his career.
Golden Flame (Charlie & Mark Johnston, Connor Beasley) 22/1
Front-runner, as is so traditional for this yard, who has improved significantly for trips over distance. Won twice over 1m6f last season, including a handicap at Haydock, where he was also second over 2m in May. That was a bold effort and he may have paid for setting gentle fractions mid-race at Ascot last time. May still have room to progress further over long trips as a four-year-old and likely to give each-way backers a good run for their money from the front.
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Onesmoothoperator (Brian Ellsion, Ben Robinson) 15/2
Has gone up a fair bit in the handicap since he last ran in such a race, but it may well be he is improving with every run. Has only been out of the first three once on the all-weather, including when an excellent third in the All-Weather Marathon Championship over course and distance in April. Unsurprisingly, he was penalised slightly for that, but he avoids the future 3lb penalty he got for being competitive at Listed level recently. Looks a very plausible contender here and jockey won the race a year ago.
Graphite (T J Kent, Ray Dawson) 25/1
This eight-year-old has had a wild career to date. Initially trained by Andre Fabre, he was a two-time Group 3 winner over just 1m in France and got within a head of beating top miler The Revenant in Group company as recently as March 2019. Since changed hands twice and won in battling circumstances for newest yard at Ascot over 1m4f last August. Despite his origins, he has shaped as though there is untapped stamina over middle distances, though this mark looks tough and he has little all-weather pedigree.
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Valley Forge (Andrew Balding, David Probert) 13/2
Winner of last year’s Melrose Stakes, the reserve handicap for the Ebor at York. Found life a little bit more difficult in the immediate aftermath, but step up to 2m worked wonders at Haydock. Possibly needs as much of a stamina test as possible given his profile and every chance he goes beyond this trip too in time. Was only given a 4lb hit for that success and has still only had nine career starts, so every chance there is more in his locker. First run on the all-weather here, but dangerous if taking to it.
Sir Chauvelin (Jim Goldie, Paul Hanagan) 18/1
Evergreen ten-year-old, who has done very well this year on the all-weather. Defeat of Onesmoothoperator, giving him 6lb, looks fantastic now, though he has not quite kicked on since. Third at Kempton over 2m in March and then sixth on All Weather Championships day in which Brian Ellison’s charge overturned previous form. Could run a big race, but others have more substance to them and would need a fair few things to go his way.
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Uber Cool (Jane Chapple-Hyam, Robert Tart) 16/1
Last five handicap runs have all been off the same mark of 92. That speaks both to a level of consistency, but also suggests the handicapper has him in his grip. Runner-up efforts at Ascot and Nottingham last autumn were solid, but was then a well-beaten last of six on Kempton’s all-weather. Is now down 1lb, but artificial record is not strong and has not been seen since November. Opposable.
Solent Gateway (Hugo Palmer, Andrew Mullen) 18/1
Another new-boy for Hugo Palmer. Won on his first effort at 2m at Chester last August and strongly looked like progressing at the time. Winless since, but excuses on all four runs. Heavy ground accounted for him at Newbury and was only narrowly beaten by a course specialist at Epsom in April. Had that race panned out differently, he may have won, while keenness at Chester, and horrible luck back at Epsom again, have accounted for him the last twice. Still has ready potential to improve at this trip off this mark based on his Chester success and should be fine on this surface.
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Verdict
Trueshan should give this a very good go again off his extraordinary weight, but conceding at least 19lb and more all round will surely be too much. Rainbow Dreamer, Spirit Mixer and Summer’s Knight are dangerous, but bottom-weight SOLENT GATEWAY strikes as a horse who could yet have much more to come. He looks a very tempting price given lots of things have gone against him on recent starts. Onesmoothoperator is another progressive type and is second choice.
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