THE huge betting race of the weekend is the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (3.35) and all eyes will be on the huge ante-post gamble, Gibbs Hill, backed from 25/1 into as low as 4/1 favourite in the last seven days.

However, that kind of price looks too short now, but it does mean that this talented, but fragile six-year-old makes the book for the rest of the field which gives this famous old race a lovely betting shape.

Time To Study ran a cracking race in the Ascot Stakes 11 days ago, but also had a hard race that day and even the genius of Ian Williams may not be able to get him to repeat, or as he must do, to improve on this effort to win here and I much prefer the claims of BARTHOLOMEU DIAS and as a back-up at a huge price FEARSOME.

Both of these entries are all-weather specialists and the last named has shown a fondness for the Tapeta surface with form figures at Wolverhampton of 313.

Of course this is a more demanding test at the Gosforth Park track for the Nick Littomoden runner and mark of 99 demands a career best by some way, but his 33/1 price tag more than compensates for that.

Bartholomeu Dias is far less exposed having had just the 11 career outings and is three wins from five on an all-weather surface, the last of which came here at Newcastle over an extended mile-and-a-half.

I thought that the handicapper was very lenient by giving him just a 4lbs penalty, but I suspect that there is a bundle of improvement to come with this first test over 16 furlongs.

He has always shaped like an out and out stayer and I think he could well be contesting group events before the season is out which means he surely has to go close here with luck in running off a mark of just 98.

The supporting card looks a cracker as well and the opening six furlong handicap at 1.50 looks hugely competitive, but VON BLUCHER could be the solution to this at around the 25/1 mark.

He has looked a little flat in his races to date, but has as a consequence of those performances fallen down the handicap to a very good rating of just 84. I also think that this drop back to six furlongs will suit him in what is sure to be a well run race. There are of course lots of dangers with the likes of Brian the Snail, Air Raid and Cosmic Law among them.

Later on, the Chipchase Stakes looks at the mercy of INVINCIBLE ARMY who ran below par in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. I actually think he ran too freely that day and he would benefit from being held up for a bit longer.

If he repeats his performance in the Duke of York Stakes then a repeat of that run would be more than good enough to see off the likes of Mr Lupton and Laugh A Minute.

Later on, LISSITZKY (nap) can land the Northumberland Plate Consolation at 3.00 despite a poor run at Newmarket last time out. That day he ran himself out in the first three quarters of the race after reacting badly to the cheek pieces and those aids are removed here. 

His previous success at Newmarket marked him down as a serious improver and if he settles better here I think there is a load more to come from this son of Declaration of War and he could still be thrown in off his current rating of 85.

Elsewhere, I will be having a major bet on Royal Hunt Cup beaten favourite NEW GRADUATE (nb) in the Listed Midsummer Stakes, the 3.25 at Windsor. He hated the soft ground that day and is just preferred to Matterhorn.

The forecast fast ground at the Berkshire ground will be right up the street of BLESS HIM and I know that David Simcock feels that he is still well handicapped and has a nice price in him and it could come in the one mile event at 4.35.