Saturday Preview Blog
Northumberland Plate Day
Saturday 28th June 2025
1.40 Newcastle: JenningsBet 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap
Kicking things off for us on Saturday, where it’s Northumberland Plate Day, will be the 1.40, and this is Class 2 handicap action that’s ridden over seven furlongs. As is the case with most races today, this is highly competitive; however, it could pay to side with POCKLINGTON for Geoff Oldroyd and P J McDonald. He was an eyecatcher last time out at York when finishing tenth in another competitive affair, just three lengths behind eventual winner Jm Jungle. That was his first try within handicap company, having contested pattern races before that, and he’s a dual course and distance winner in his novice days. He’s two pounds below his York run here, and can go well.
Simon & Ed Crisford’s Durham Castle makes obvious appeal here on the back of his win at Windsor last time, that was his second victory within handicap company out of just three starts, having won at Goodwood back in September, and he looks progressive. Strike Red is battle-hardened within this sort of contest and often gives his running, he’s got every chance of going well again here off this mark for Richard Fahey.
Top Selection: POCKLINGTON – 7/1 (Each-Way)
Shortlist: Durham Castle, Strike Red
1.55 York: Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Mile Handicap
It’s over to York now with the 1.55, which is a Class 3 handicap that’s contested over a distance of a mile. I like the William Haggas trained ARCHIVIST here, who’s set to be ridden by Tom Marquand. He had a string of seconds next to his name within novice and maiden company, before finally getting his head in front at Leicester earlier this month, winning by four and a half lengths. He bumped into several useful sorts before winning, the likes of Starzintheireyes, Seaplane, and Smoken, and despite not winning, that form does look solid. He was entered at Royal Ascot but didn’t make it in, but I think he can potentially be a bit better than this level, and should go well here.
Madame Sevigne enters calculations on the back of her neck second to Boyfriend at Nottingham earlier this month, as she’ll contest this off just a pound higher mark, and George Boughey’s Cadarn can conclude the shortlist under William Buick, he’s won both of his handicap starts to date and is possibly still on the upgrade.
Top Selection: ARCHIVIST – 5/4 (Win)
Shortlist: Madame Sevigne, Cadarn
2.10 Newcastle: JenningsBet Chipchase Stakes
We’re staying at Newcastle for the third race of the preview, and we’re up in grade here with the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes, which is contested over a distance of six furlongs. James Fanshawe’s KIND OF BLUE looks to set a very solid standard here at the top of the market under James Doyle. Things didn’t go to plan for him on his seasonal reappearance in France; he missed the break and wasn’t given a hard time of it following that, however, he should still take a significant step forward here. He won the Group 1 Champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot on his final start of last term, and that piece of form is a level above his rivals here. It would be disappointing should he not post a bold bid here.
Alyanaabi was a Listed winner at Haydock on his seasonal reappearance over seven furlongs. He drops even further down in trip here, which is an interesting move; however, his ability to stay further could work well at this track, though. Elsewhere, another horse who has solid form is Spycatcher; he also won a Listed event on his first run of the campaign at Doncaster, and if he runs up to his best level can play a part.
Top Selection: KIND OF BLUE – 11/8 (Win) (NAP)
Shortlist: Alyanaabi, Spycatcher
2.25 York: Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes:
It’s back over to York at 2.25 for more Group 3 action, and this time in the form of the Criterion Stakes, which is ridden over seven furlongs. This looks like a good opportunity for William Haggas’s LAKE FOREST to get back into the winner’s enclosure under Tom Marquand. He’s got some very solid form to his name within Group 1 company, notably, last term when finishing second in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, and he also ran well there last time out when finishing fifth in the Queen Anne, just under three lengths behind Docklands. I think that he’s the best horse in the race, and he should take a lot of beating.
The obvious big danger is Formal for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy. She’s bred to be very smart, and looked impressive at Epsom last time when winning the Listed Surrey Stakes, beating Saqqara Sands, and that rival has since come on to win a Listed event herself. She looks to have significant potential and can post a bold bid here. Prague is top-rated here for Dylan Cunha and Kieran Shoemark. He won the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket at the end of last season in impressive style, and if he bounces back from a poor run at Ascot last time, he can feature.
Top Selection: LAKE FOREST – 13/8 (Win) (NB)
Shortlist: Formal, Prague
2.40 Newcastle: JenningsBet Festival Northumberland Vase Handicap
Next up it’s the 2.40 at Newcastle and this is the Northumberland Vase, which is a consolation race for the Plate, and a Class 2 handicap over two miles and half of a furlong. As expected, this is very competitive; however, I’ve come down on SHERADANN, who represents the team of Ian Williams and Hector Crouch. He’s got some good form on the all-weather at Kempton in the winter, placing in a couple of competitive handicaps over two miles, and he bounced back to form on the turf last time out at Goodwood when finishing third behind Aggagio, also over two miles. He’ll contest this off the same mark as his Goodwood, and could outrun his current price.
Godsend will be popular here for Sir Mark Prescott and Luke Morris, he’s won his last four starts and has been stepping up in distance each time, he may not have finished his progressive form, and will be a big player here. Andrew Balding’s Contacto is another one to note; he ran well over two miles at Goodwood last time on his seasonal reappearance and should take a step forward here off the same mark.
Top Selection: SHERADANN – 12/1 (Each-Way)
Shortlist: Godsend, Contacto
3.00 York: Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dash Handicap
Next up in our preview is the 3.00 at York, and this is another competitive Class 2 handicap, this time over a sprinting distance of five furlongs. I’ve tried my hand with one of the current outsiders here in the form of DEMOCRACY DILEMMA for the combination of Robert Cowell and Tom Eaves. He’s got plenty of form at a higher level than this, and didn’t run badly last time out within handicap company when finishing seventh of nineteen in the Dash at Epsom. He’s dropped a further couple of pounds following that effort, and is now down to a mark which he should be competitive off. He normally goes from the front, and he could prove tough to peg back.
Jm Jungle sets the standard at the top of the betting currently. He’s no stranger to these sorts of events, and he’s got a fine record in them, having won the Dash last time at Epsom, and despite nudging up the weights, he’s likely to give his running once more. William Knight’s Regal Envoy comes into the race in great form, having won his last two starts at Windsor, and if converting that form to York, he’s got every chance of a four-pound higher mark than his last success.
Top Selection: DEMOCRACY DILEMMA – 11/1 (Each-Way)
Shortlist: JM JUNGLE, REGAL ENVOY
3.15 Newcastle: JenningsBet Northumberland Plate Handicap:
The feature race of the afternoon comes up at 3.15 and this is the Northumberland Plate, which is a Heritage Handicap that’s contested over two miles and half of a furlong. Andrew Balding’s WHO’S GLEN makes a lot of appeal here, who’s set to be ridden by P J McDonald. He ran a very solid race in the Chester Cup last time out when fifth behind East India Dock, who he reopposes here, albeit he’s now better off at the weights with that rival, and he’ll contest this off the same mark. He was progressive last term and continued in the same vein this time around. He shouldn’t have an issue with the distance here, considering how he ran at Chester last time, and I think he looks like a serious player.
East India Dock himself has to enter calculations on the back of his Chester win, and he followed up with a good run at Ascot when just a length and three-quarters behind Ascending in the Ascot Stakes. There’s likely more to come from him on the level. Willie Mullins sends Poppano to take his chance here; he could be ahead of his mark, and you’d never write a Closutton runner off, he’ll likely go well under Jamie Spencer and can make up the shortlist.
Top Selection: Who’s Glen – 5/1 (Each-Way)
Shortlist: East India Dock, Poppano
3.30 Curragh: Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes
We have one race to look at from Ireland on Saturday, and it’s Group 1 action in the form of the Pretty Polly Stakes, which is contested over a mile and two furlongs. I think that WHIRL looks to hold very strong claims here for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. She was an impressive winner of the Musidora Stakes at York on her penultimate start, before progressing further when running a huge race in the Epsom Oaks when finishing just a neck second to her exciting stablemate Minnie Hauk. She gets twelve pounds from her main market rival in Kalpana here, which could prove very significant, and she should post a very bold.
Kalpana has to enter calculations despite having to give the weight away, she won the Group 1 Filly & Mares race on Champions Day at Ascot at the end of last season, and should build on a fine run when finishing third here in Group 1 company on seasonal reappearance behind Los Angeles. French raider Survie could be the best of the rest; she was a Group 2 winner last season and should build on her seasonal reappearance when second in Group 2 company.
Top Selection: WHIRL – 15/8 (Win)
Shortlist: Kalpana, Survie
3.45 Newcastle: Pertemps Network Handicap:
We conclude this week’s Saturday ITV Preview Blog with the 3.45 at Newcastle, and this is a Class 2 handicap that’s set to be ridden over a distance of seven furlongs. I’ve come down on NATIVE WARRIOR in this particular affair for the team of Karl Burke and Jams Doyle. He’s yet to win in handicap company; however, he’s posted several big efforts within ultra-competitive contests. He was third in the Britannia Stakes at last year’s Royal Ascot and was only beaten three-quarters of a length when second within a competitive Goodwood handicap following the Ascot run, with that effort coming off a pound higher mark than his current one. He was second at Windsor last time out over a mile off today’s mark, and the drop down to seven seems the correct move as he hasn’t totally been seeing his races out over a mile as of late. I think he can have a big say here.
The in-form Rare Change has won three of his last four starts for Richard Hughes and will be popular at the top of the betting here. He has an obvious chance and looks a danger to all if he continues his upward trajectory. Elsewhere, there should be more to come from Telemark for Simon & Ed Crisford; he’s not been running respectably this term without winning, and should continue to be competitive off his current mark.
Top Selection: NATIVE WARRIOR – 5/1 (Each-Way)
Shortlist: Rare Change, Telemark