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Racing All to play for in Newcastle this afternoon

IT IS Newcastle’s big day this afternoon with the Northumberland Plate, the Gosforth Park Cup and the Group Three Chipchase Stakes.

Due off at 3.35, the big staying handicap doesn’t have as much strength in depth as in recent years and that could very well be down to the big drop in prize money. Still, the top-weight runs off 108 and there are four other entries set to race off three figures, so the bottom hasn’t completely fallen out of this famous old race.

Mark Johnston has a couple of entries at either end of the handicap with the prolific winner King’s Advice and featherweight (in comparison) Anyonecanhaveitall the choice of stable jockey Joe Fanning.

But I am going to take a chance on the 20/1 shot GLENCADAM GLORY under the care of Tim Easterby. Ninth in the 2017 Derby and then fifth in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, when rated as high as 110, the son of Nathaniel has since been dropped 10lbs and after two years on the sidelines he made a fine reappearance in the Listed Grand Cup at Doncaster, finishing fourth of six to Red Verdon being beaten barely five lengths.

He is sure to be sharper for that run and I think has been crying out for a step back up to two miles. His only try at the trip came in the Henry II Stakes when he pulled way too hard when sixth of eight to Magic Circle.

Of his rivals, the progressive Collide, the lightly raced Australis and Rajinsky are all feared in a race which will be a severe test with plenty of front-runners/pressers set to line up.

The Gosforth Park Cup takes us to the other end of the spectrum over the minimum trip and I fancy COPPER KNIGHT (nb) to give Easterby a famous double on the card by defying top-weight of 105. He has shaped well on two starts at Newmarket and Doncaster, but a big field handicap giving weight away to inferior animals is his cup of tea and he is the selection in the 2.25.

The consolation Plate looks an easier puzzle to solve than the real thing, but we may be able to grab some each-way value in the form of AL KOUT if all eight declared runners stand their ground.

Hollie Doyle’s mount ran on nicely at Wolverhampton when third to the aforementioned Australis and, as long as the field don’t crawl, I think he is just about the best handicapped entry in the race.

Course and distance winner MUBAKKER has a bit to find with the leading players in the Chipchase Stakes at 1.50, but is highly progressive and anything around the 3/1 mark should be snapped up.

He eased home over course and distance last time out and may have most to fear from Major Jumbo. Kevin Ryan’s charge wasn’t suited by the fast ground last time out and will be much more at home on this more forgiving Tapeta surface.

There is a good strength in depth entry to the class two, six furlongs handicap at 1.15 and I fancy that the top-weight TABDEED can bounce back to form. The Owen Burrows charge hasn’t been easy to train, but goes well when fresh and is probably capable of some black type this term.

Take him to successfully give the weight away to the likes of Alaadel (better on a forgiving turf surface) and Rathbone. The last named is talented, but needs plenty to go his way through a race.

The big race at Newmarket is the Group Three Criterion Stakes at 2.40 with those seasoned campaigners Limato and Sir Dancealot leading the entry.

But they now look vulnerable and the Andrew Balding-trained HAPPY POWER looks the order of the day.

Third to Spring Blues in the Spring Trophy at Haydock, he can take this step up in grade in his stride with the forecast thunderstorms in his favour.

There is no outstanding candidate in the Irish Derby (7.15) at the Curragh with Aidan O’Brien supplying six of the 17 runners.

The best of the Ballydoyle entries could well be IBERIA (nap), sure to be suited to the step up to a mile-and-a-half for the first time in his career. He was a disappointment on his three-year-old debut in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, but there was no pace on that day and staying is sure to be his strong suit.

The son of Galileo gets the vote over stable mates Arthur’s Kingdom and the thoroughly unexposed Leopardstown maiden winner Tiger Moth.

On the same card, have a second look at FLASH GORDON in the big Premier handicap at 6.15, while I suspect MASTER OF REALITY will get the better of Sovereign in the Vintage Crop Stakes at 7.45.

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