The Northumberland Plate (Saturday 29 June) is a class handicap run over 2 miles and 56 yards on the Tapeta all-weather surface at Newcastle Racecourse. The race was run on turf at Newcastle from 1833 until 2015, but since it moved to the all-weather in 2016 it has been won by Aquarium, Higher Power, and Withhold.
Northumberland Plate Three-Year-Trends
- Two winners have been aged five and one aged four
- Winners were rated 99, 99, and 107
- Winners carried 9-1, 9-5, and 9-9
- The winners finished first, second, and fourth on their previous start
- SPs have been 5/1, 11/2, and 16/1
- Best Odds Available
- Wide range of Betting Markets
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- Best Odds Available
- Wide range of Betting Markets
- Super fast deposits & withdrawals
- Live streaming service
Northumberland Plate 2019 Main Contenders
Gibbs Hill
Six-year-old that hasn’t run for 724 days but there has been plenty of money around for him in the ante-post markets. Other positives include the fact he won a handicap very easily over 12-furlongs at Wolverhampton after a 9-month absence in 2017 and won another handicap later that season at Kempton. His stable is also in excellent form and he has obviously been showing up well at home.
King’s Advice
Mark Johnston-trained five-year-old who is the complete opposite of the favourite. He’s won his last seven races, showing tactical versatility in doing so, and comes here just five weeks after his last win at Goodwood over 14-furlongs. There’s a good chance he’ll improve again for the step-up to two miles but he probably needs to in what looks a stronger race than the ones he has been winning.
Withhold
Won last year’s renewal of the Northumberland Plate after eight months off the track and he returns from a similar break this time after breaking a blood vessel in the Geelong Cup when being prepared for the 2018 Melbourne Cup. He was actually favourite for Australia’s biggest race in the ante-post market then and could offer plenty of value if back in form.
Stratum
Hasn’t won on the flat for a while, and was a beaten favourite off a lower mark on his only run on the all-weather for former trainer John Gosden. He’s now trained by Willie Mullins and came back to form over hurdles on his last start. Needs to translate that improvement back to the flat.
Bartholomeu Dias
Four-year-old who has shown improvement since being switched to the all-weather on his last three starts with two wins and one second place finish. He was runner-up to the re-opposing King’s Advice but has a nice pull at the weights at a course he won at last time. However, he needs to prove his stamina.
Northumberland Plate 2019 Summary
The leading protagonists all have very different profiles, but the in-form King’s Advice and Bartholomeu Dias may be vulnerable to one of the classier types. The money has been pouring in for Gibbs Hill, but a two-year absence has to be a worry. Withhold has also been absent for a while but, as that was the case before he won the race last year, he looks worth an each-way punt.
Northumberland Plate 2019 Tip
Withhold (Each-Way)