Horse Power: Onesmoothoperator can win the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle

ONESMOOTHOPERATOR can win the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (3.35pm) at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.

Trainer Brian Ellison – who was born in Newcastle on Plate Day 72 years ago – can finally achieve his ‘Holy Grail’ and take part in the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’ – the Gosforth Park film held a day after his birthday this year. Ellison has two entries in the top weight extended two miles Tashkan making his first start since finishing third in the Double Major in the Group One Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp in October. He is clearly a classy stayer but carries top weight and on his first start this season, he may have to settle for a place. But stablemate Onesmoothoperator can score at a track he’s thrived on in the past. The six-year-old is a smart performer on all-weather grounds and won twice at Newcastle, including landing the 1m4½f November Handicap – which was redirected from his usual home of Doncaster – late last season.

Operator Onesmooth clearly has enough pace to win at that shorter distance but remains fairly unexposed over this longer trip despite running some good races in his few attempts. He was sixth over course and distance in January and even better when second in a similar handicap on his most recent start at Southwell. He was second after repositioning Prydwen with third Royal Ascot winner Pledgeofallegiance. With the latter not bidding to continue at Gosforth Park, Onesmoothoperator can reverse form with the former in better 2lb conditions.

Others who could go well in the ever-competitive Northumberland plate are Hugo Palmer’s Chester Cup hero. Zoffee – who is the winner of the course and distance; course and similar distance marker coached by Heather Main Island Brave; and Rathgarfrom the Jack Channon stable.

of Charlie Johnston PONS AELIUS can win the Jenningsbet Festival Northumberland Vase Handicap (Consolation Race For The Northumberland Plate) (14.35). The five-year-old has not won since taking a similar two-mile handicap at Goodwood this time last year. He was fit and out but ran well to be fourth over course and distance last November. Pons Aelius was also third at Catterick on his penultimate start and is now reduced to an attractive handicap 11lb below what he scored 12 months ago. He needs to get back to form but under recent Royal Ascot winner Billy Loughnane, a rising star of the weighing room, Pons Aelius can do just that and overtake the favourite. Alphonse Le Grande.

RAMADAN He can also bounce back from a subpar effort at Haydock Park last time to win the Group Three Jenningsbet Nun Street Newcastle Now Chipchase Stakes (14.04). Richard Fahey’s four-year-old was progressive with two runs second at Thirsk and in the Victoria Cup at Ascot before finishing eighth behind Tiber Flow on Merseyside earlier this month. He is better than that and can win on his first start in any weather.

Stable mate STRIKE RED may be able to do something similar and bounce back with victory in the opener, the Jenningsbet 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap (1.35pm). The six-year-old was close to the head of business long before finishing 13th behind Unequal Love in last weekend’s Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot. He generally makes a few runs to start and has hinted at a return to winning form in the Berkshires. Won a big handicap in Ireland at his fourth start last season and can do something similar at Gosforth Park.

Others who can win at Newcastle are Richard Hannon’s recent goal at Kempton THE LOCAL HERO in Pertemps Network Handicap (15.40); stable mate GUEST in Winners Wear Skopes Menswear EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (16.15); Andrew Balding trained CITY STREAK in Pertemps Handicap (16.50); and NATZOR – from the David O’Meara stable – in the final, Pertemps Education Network Handicap (17.25).

At Newmarket the said William Haggas was trained TIBER FLOW – a good Betfred stakes winner John Of Gaunt at Haydock – can re-enter the Group Three Plantation Stud Criterion Stakes (15.25).

Liverpool FC fan Karl Burke TEJ A can continue her good form with victory in the listed Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies’ Stakes (2.15pm). The Mehmas filly has won two of her three starts so far, following up her win at Chester with another in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom. She can bring a hat-trick introduced for the first time in the listed company.

from Charlie Appleby KING OF CONQUESTSunder Liverpool FC fan William Buick, can also win in the Listed JCB Fred Archer Stakes (14.50).

Others who can triumph at Headquarters are Ed Walker’s THE QUEEN’S REIGN in Durcan Bloodstock Pat Smullen Memorial Fillies’ Handicap (4pm); the one trained by Charlie Johnston DUBAI CANDLE in the Stradovarius First Foals 2024 Fillies’ Handicap (16.35); and MAJESTICfrom the Jack Channon stable, in the final Mutasaabeq At The National Stud Handicap (17.10).

At Chester Channon’s THE POPPY JUNGLE, under Liverpool jockey Franny Norton, can win the Patron Tequila Handicap (15.35). Veteran Scouse rider Norton could have another good afternoon on the Roodee with another win on Charlie Johnston OPEN SECRET in the Whispering Angel Handicap (14.25) and MAR GRAY – for Merseyside-born Donald McCain’s Cheshire stable – in the Jam Shed Handicap (16.10).

Meanwhile, well drawn course and distance winner OLD CHEMISTS can win the six-furlong Manor Car Hire Handicap (3pm) for trainer Tom Dascombe and jockey Pierre-Louis Jamin; and Tim Easterby’s THE GOLDEN MELODY can also triumph in the Chase Distillery EBF Fillies’ Handicap (17.20).

Aidan O’Brien at the Curragh on Sunday LOS ANGELES can win Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (No Geldings) (16.05). The previously unbeaten son of Camelot finished third ahead of strong stablemate City Of Troy and re-opposition Friendly environment in the Betfred Derby at Epsom earlier this month. He won the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud on his second start as a juvenile before taking the Group 3 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown on his seasonal return last month. He was more prominent at Epsom and, as a stable number one at the Curragh, will be given the best possible chance to change his form with James Fanshawe’s hero in the Lingfield Derby Trial Ambiente Friendly. On this more conventional track and with even more room for improvement, Los Angeles can do just that to give trainer O’Brien a record 16th Irish Classic victory.

At the Curragh on Saturday, O’Brien can at least get a couple of wins with REALLY REAL in the Group Two Airlie Stud Stakes (Fillies) (2.20pm) and JAN BRUEGHEL in the Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai International Stakes (2.55pm), both to be ridden by Ryan Moore.

of Ralph Beckett BLUESTOCKINGa good winner of the Middleton Stakes at York on her seasonal return, can re-enter the Group One Cairn Pretty Polly Stakes (Fillies & Mares) (3.30pm).

The Wrights

NEWCASTLE

13.35 Strike Red
14.04 Ramadan
14.35 Pons Aelius
15.10 Onesmoothoperator (NAP)
15.40 Local hero
16.15 Guest
16.50 City Streak
17.25 Natzor

NEW MARKET

13.40 Paradise Springs
14.15 Teej A
14.50 The King of Conquest
15.25 Tiber Flow
16:00 Reign of the Queen
16.35 Dubai Candle
17.10 Majestic

CHESTER

13.50 The flying seagull
14.25 Open Secret
3pm Old Chums
15:35 Jungle Mac
16.10 Sea Grey
16.45 Bobby Bennu
17.20 Golden Melody

WINDSOR

14.10 Kinetics
14.42 Dubai Bling
Time 15.17 Perennial
15.52 Believe in the stars
16.25 Northcliff
17:00 Lia Rose
17.32 Stryder

DONCASTER

17.50 Rock opera
18.25 Musical touch
19:00 Starshiba
7:30 p.m
20:00 Marmaduke Lemon
20.30 Turner Girl
21:00 Al Muqdad

LINGFIELD

17.40 Donuts
18.10 Mykonos St John
18.45 On the right track
19.15 Lucky gift
19.45 Noel Fox
20.15 Mbappe
20.45 Briar Rose

CURRAGH (SATURDAY)

13.45 Red Letter Bray
14.20 really lovely
14.55 Jan Brueghel
15.30 Bluestocking

CURRAGH (SUNDAY)

13.40 Tunbridge Wells
16.05 Los Angeles (NAP)