ROYAL Ascot and the Derby are the big June highlights for racing fans, but for lovers of the sport in the North East there is no bigger day than tomorrows Betfair Exchange Northumberland Plate (3.35pm) at Newcastle.
The Pitmens Derby, established in 1833, is one of the most historic handicaps in the country.
A shade over two miles, the race was significantly changed in 2016 when it was run for the first time on an artificial Tapeta surface, having previously been run on turf.
We have seen some very decent horses scoop the prize in recent years, not least Withhold 12 months ago who won impressively before being targeted at the Melbourne Cup.
The trip Down Under didnt go to plan for Roger Charltons inmate as he burst a blood vessel in the Geelong Cup.
This will be his first start since then, but an absence has never been a problem for this gelded son of Champs Elysees and he certainly isnt handicapped out of it off an 8lb higher mark.
He isnt quite a big enough price for me, though, and the first one I will be backing is TIME TO STUDY for the inform Ian Williams yard.
The five-year-old was an excellent third behind stablemate The Grand Visir in the Ascot Stakes last week, not quite seeing out the 2m4f trip on soft ground.
That was just his third start for Williams, who is mustard with this type of horse.
Time To Study was sixth in this race last year when trained by Mark Johnston off a mark of 108. He lines up tomorrow off just 96 so is clearly well-handicapped.
A concern is the short turnaround, but four of his five career wins have come with a gap of less than two weeks since his last run.
Kerrin McEvoy, the 2018 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, was booked early in the week and Time To Study looks a good each-way bet at 16/1 with Ladbrokes.
I will also be backing Tom Dascombes PROSCHEMA at 14/1 with Coral.
Regular followers of this column will remember the four-year-old rewarding each-way support at Newmarket a few weeks ago when finishing third behind Red Galileo.
He relished the step up to 1m6f and the extra two should be within his compass tomorrow.
Jane Elliott takes off a valuable 3lbs from the saddle and even though this will be his first start on the all-weather, he should be well suited to it.
Speedo Boy, another Williams runner, is also respected having split Red Galileo and Proschema at HQ.
He normally runs his race but doesnt look particularly well treated off 98.
There are plenty of other dangers, including Roger Varians Gibbs Hill, but he has been off the track for a very long time and is now much higher in the weights than when winning a Class Three handicap at Kempton almost two years ago.
The best quality race on Newcastles card is the Group Three Betfair Exchange Chipchase Stakes (2.25pm), which looks at the mercy of James Tates INVINRead More – Source
ROYAL Ascot and the Derby are the big June highlights for racing fans, but for lovers of the sport in the North East there is no bigger day than tomorrows Betfair Exchange Northumberland Plate (3.35pm) at Newcastle.
The Pitmens Derby, established in 1833, is one of the most historic handicaps in the country.
A shade over two miles, the race was significantly changed in 2016 when it was run for the first time on an artificial Tapeta surface, having previously been run on turf.
We have seen some very decent horses scoop the prize in recent years, not least Withhold 12 months ago who won impressively before being targeted at the Melbourne Cup.
The trip Down Under didnt go to plan for Roger Charltons inmate as he burst a blood vessel in the Geelong Cup.
This will be his first start since then, but an absence has never been a problem for this gelded son of Champs Elysees and he certainly isnt handicapped out of it off an 8lb higher mark.
He isnt quite a big enough price for me, though, and the first one I will be backing is TIME TO STUDY for the inform Ian Williams yard.
The five-year-old was an excellent third behind stablemate The Grand Visir in the Ascot Stakes last week, not quite seeing out the 2m4f trip on soft ground.
That was just his third start for Williams, who is mustard with this type of horse.
Time To Study was sixth in this race last year when trained by Mark Johnston off a mark of 108. He lines up tomorrow off just 96 so is clearly well-handicapped.
A concern is the short turnaround, but four of his five career wins have come with a gap of less than two weeks since his last run.
Kerrin McEvoy, the 2018 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, was booked early in the week and Time To Study looks a good each-way bet at 16/1 with Ladbrokes.
I will also be backing Tom Dascombes PROSCHEMA at 14/1 with Coral.
Regular followers of this column will remember the four-year-old rewarding each-way support at Newmarket a few weeks ago when finishing third behind Red Galileo.
He relished the step up to 1m6f and the extra two should be within his compass tomorrow.
Jane Elliott takes off a valuable 3lbs from the saddle and even though this will be his first start on the all-weather, he should be well suited to it.
Speedo Boy, another Williams runner, is also respected having split Red Galileo and Proschema at HQ.
He normally runs his race but doesnt look particularly well treated off 98.
There are plenty of other dangers, including Roger Varians Gibbs Hill, but he has been off the track for a very long time and is now much higher in the weights than when winning a Class Three handicap at Kempton almost two years ago.
The best quality race on Newcastles card is the Group Three Betfair Exchange Chipchase Stakes (2.25pm), which looks at the mercy of James Tates INVINRead More – Source
