ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Double for Northumberland Plate Day at Newcastle

Almarada Prince, 0.5 pts E/W, 8/1, 4 places 

City House is building up a good all-weather profile and is respected, but preference is for ALMARADA PRINCE (best price 8/1), who has put together a strong of solid efforts in defeat in the last couple of months and comes out very well at the weights. 

Craig Lidster’s consistent three-year-old won three of his four starts last year and ran very well when second of 17 in a handicap at York two weeks ago, only finding top-weight James’s Delight too strong who benefitted for the early strong pace. 

His two other placed efforts this year were highly respectable, particularly his third at Southwell, and with Jones 5lb claim taken into account, his low weight will stand him in good stead. His stable is also in excellent form, so he merits serious consideration, with plenty of contributing factors.

Haveyoumissedme, 0.5 pts E/W, 14/1, 4 places 

This could be the day Faylaq finally returns to the winners enclosure, who is now 6Ib lower than when third in the race last year when shouldering top-weight. 

However, HAVEYOUMISSEDME (best price 14/1) could offer some value at the odds. Iain Jardine’s charge finished second in this race two years ago off a mark of 84 and then bolted up over the same C&D later in that year off a mark of 85. 

His overall record over track-and-trip reads 212, so while consistency hasn’t exactly been his strongest point this year, you will struggle to find a better treated horse in this race. With most firms paying four places, he is appealing, indeed. 

Tales Of The Heart, 1pt WIN, 4/1

Ralph Beckett has a very good record in the Empress Fillies' Stakes, winning two of the last four renewals, and the Hampshire-based handler must have an excellent chance of enhancing his statistics with smart prospect TALES OF THE HEART (best price 4/1).

This filly, who cost an enormous amount of money as a yearling, made a winning debut at Kempton 24 days ago. She travelled well throughout, and despite taking a while to wind up into top gear, she was well on top of her rivals at the finish. 

I was deeply impressed with the way she conducted herself for a newcomer, and there’s every chance the switch to grass will bring about improvement. With William Buick in the saddle, his presence suggests the booking is a statement of intent. 

Celandine, 0.5 pts E/W, 16/1, 4 places 

Ed Walker knows what it takes to win this race, having trained the winner of the 2018 renewal with Royal Intervention, and has a big player for today’s edition in the shape of CELANDINE (best price 16/1).

This daughter of Kingman shaped with plenty of promise when seventh on debut at Goodwood and would have finished a lot closer had she not been denied a clear run twice when trying to make ground. 

Nevertheless, she confirmed that initial eye-catching display to open her account at Windsor, winning with a bit to spare, and is well worth her place in today’s class with Tom Marquand retained to ride. 

Four places widely available.

Deauville Legend, 0.5 pts E/W, 11/1

DEAUVILLE LEGEND (best price 11/1) was behind King Of Conquest and Aimeric at Goodwood earlier this month, but the five-year-old was travelling best of all on the front-end for much of the contest, and if he can take a step forward here by recapturing his peak three-year-old, then he’s entitled to be going very close. 

James Ferguson’s charge developed into a classy three-year-old, winning Group 2 and Group 3 contests, including in his sole visit to this course when defeating Al Qareem in the Bahrain Trophy over 1m5f. His other victory came in the Great Voltigeur, comfortably beating Secret State prior to an excellent fourth-place finish in the Melbourne Cup. 

His form has dipped in six starts since, but the return to this course on suitable ground, with a couple of outings under his belt, might rekindle his best form. He remains a class act on his day, and should he get back to something near his best, there’s every possibility he will come out on top. At the odds, he is an appealing proposition.

Zealandia, 0.5 pts E/W, 22/1, 5 places 

ZEALANDIA (best price 22/1) wasn’t able to perform to his best in the Chester Cup last time out but Ian Williams has given him plenty of time since and if was able to stage a repeat of his C&D victory here in January, then he would surely make an impact in today’s feature contest. 

The seven-year-old raced prominently throughout that contest and having looked as though Enemy was going to swallow him up inside the final furlong, he stuck to his guns determinedly, rallying inside the final 100 yards to get his head in front. I thought he won with a bit more in hand than the winning margin suggested, too. 

The front pair pulled well clear of Duke Of Oxford, Onesmoothoperator, and Evaluation, and I see no reason why any of those should reverse the form this time around. Josephine Gordon is booked to ride, so with that vital piece of form taken into consideration, he must be backed at double-figure odds. 

Five places are generally available. 

Solent Gateway, 0.5 pts E/W, 25/1, 5 places 

Hugo Palmer’s SOLENT GATEWAY (best price 25/1) lacks consistency, but he’s back on the same mark as when finishing third in the race two years ago and could again be set to outrun his odds. 

This six-year-old turned in his best effort of the year when second on ground he disliked at Haydock last time out and can find himself 3lb below his last winning mark, so he’s certainly well treated returning to the all-weather. 

His last win on the all-weather was also off a 1ib higher mark when defying top-weight at Wolverhampton. With plenty in his favour, I can see him running another big race, especially if he’s able to grab the lead.

Five places are generally available.

Nostrum, 1pt WIN, 9/2

The Criterion Stakes could be any of the six runners for the taking, but having looked thoroughly at each contender's prospects, I am going to give a chance to Sir Michael Stoute’s NOSTRUM (best price 9/2). 

This one-time 2000 Guineas hopeful has yet to live up to the hype and expectations he has been set, but I’m willing to forgive him for his last couple of disappointments and judge him on his earlier form, particularly at this course. 

The son of Kingman has failed to beat a horse in his last two runs, including on his return at Sandown, but he would have needed it. He also likes this venue, with two wins and a third-place effort in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. 

He undoubtedly comes with risks attached, but you can also pick holes in the other representatives, and the selection is by far the least exposed runner in the field. Furthermore, the return to 7f will suit (two-from-three over the trip).

United Approach, 1pt WIN, 4/1

This is an extremely competitive race, with plenty to consider, but the James Tate-trained UNITED APPROACH (best price 4/1) has won two of his four starts and looks a horse well ahead of the handicapper based on his seasonal/handicap debut fourth at Newbury last month.

Having finished a luckless fifth on debut at Ascot, he won his next two starts with plenty in hand before catching the eye on handicap debut at Newbury on his return when fourth. He split horses rated in the 90s, and, surprisingly, the handicapper has dropped his mark 2lb ahead of his tapeta debut. 

Based on the way he’s been finishing off his races over shorter, the step up in trip 7f should suit, and he sneaks into this race near the bottom of the weights. If he takes to the surface, he’s a dangerous candidate to rule out, as I can see him running a massive race.