Northumberland Plate tips and odds: Calling The Wind our fancy

Newcastle’s big race of the year on the Flat is the Northumberland Plate Handicap, with a scheduled off time of 2.05pm on Saturday.

The heritage handicap, run on the Gosforth Park all-weather Tapeta track over an extended two miles, was won 12 months ago by Trueshan. The Alan King-trained stayer produced a remarkable and historic display, with Hollie Doyle in the saddle, to defy a mark of 120 – becoming the highest-rated winner of a handicap in Britain in more than three decades.

A field of 19, with Second Slip a non-runner, is expected to break from the gates in search of the £81,000 winner’s prize in the Northumberland Plate – and our racing expert has two selections.

Newcastle, 2.05, Saturday July 1 – Northumberland Plate odds

Odds are courtesy of Paddy Power, correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.

• Vino Victrix @ 12/1

Northumberland Plate betting predictions

• Selection: Calling The Wind @ 14/1 with Paddy Power
• Next best: Matchless @ 66/1 with Paddy Power

Odds correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change.

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Laying down the law on Golden Rules

Connections of the Deborah Faulkner-trained Golden Rules have not lacked confidence this week and, as a result, the Golden Horn gelding is now as short as 11/4, having been 6/1 as recently as Thursday.

Formerly trained by John and Thady Gosden in the colours of Anthony Oppenheimer, he was a Chelmsford novice winner over 1m 5½f in 2020 – and stamina has always been a potential strong suit.

A fine fourth in the Ascot Stakes (2m 4f, good to firm) in the summer of 2021 at the Royal meeting confirmed that theory, though it would be his last start for the Gosden yard.

A total of 638 days went by before he made a winning return for these connections over two miles at Kempton in March, conceding weight to six rivals and winning well from the front with Oisin Murphy in the saddle.

Wisely, Golden Rules has had a nice break since. While a 3lb rise could be tolerable and Murphy’s presence as pilot again is a plus, his price has contracted quickly and, on that basis, he is overlooked.

Callan: Calling the tune again

Some of the other potential major contenders include Post Impressionist, a lightly raced sort for William Haggas with lots of scope for more at this new trip, based on his smart York win in the autumn, and Sir Mark Prescott’s Omniscient.

The latter ended last year with a smooth Southwell win upped to 1m 4f and is another with scope for better. Both, however, lack a recent run.

Newmarket winner Adjuvant has form ties with Post Impressionist and can go well, but at double-figure odds maybe CALLING THE WIND is the answer for trainer Richard Hughes and jockey Neil Callan.

The Authorized gelding, a strong stayer, has run very well in defeat in the Chester Cup and the Ascot Stakes on turf recently, chasing home Ahorsewithnoname latterly at the Royal meeting.

It has been an excellent few weeks for Callan, with a Group 1 at Royal Ascot contributing to a recent strike rate that has returned well over 20 per cent in two of the past three months.

Cheekpieces make a reappearance for Calling The Wind now and he should be one that is doing well when this gets tough late on in what is his first visit to Newcastle since he was a two-year-old in 2018.

Selection: Calling The Wind @ 14/1 with Paddy Power

Long-shot Matchless is no mug

Galileo gelding MATCHLESS is one of those that makes some appeal at a huge price. The Jennie Candlish-trained five-year-old creeps in here off a mark of 88, with only two rivals carrying less weight.

Formerly trained by Ivan Furtado, he won twice over hurdles – including here in November – after moving to this trainer. And on his return from a layoff at Doncaster (1m 4f, soft) in May, he obliged on the level.

He was second next time at Kelso back jumping and then a fair third on fast ground over a mile-and-a-half at Pontefract 19 days ago off this mark.

Stamina is unlikely to be an issue and he is a reliable performer who is unexposed at this distance on the Flat. He could be one to make a decent fist of this at a massive price with six – yes, six – places being paid.

Selection: Matchless @ 66/1 with Paddy Power

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