ROYAL ASCOT WINNER PLEDGEOFALLEGIANCE STARS AMONG 50 REMAINING ENTRIES FOR JENNINGSBET NORTHUMBERLAND PLATE
24th June 2024 – Despite going close on several occasions, Sir Mark Prescott has never won the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate, but that could change this Saturday after he left three runners in at the five-day stage for the £150,000 staying contest including ante-post favourite Pledgeofallegiance.
The 4-year-old sprung a minor surprise as he beat 19 rivals to land the Ascot Stakes on his first attempt at 2m4f at Royal Ascot just six days ago. He could be joined by fellow hat-trick seeking stablemate Trooper Bisdee who won with considerable ease at Pontefract on Sunday. True Legend has never gone beyond 1m6f before but could step up to 2m½f this weekend and add to his trainers strong hand.
Chester Cup winner Alphonse Le Grande has been raised 8lbs for that career-best success last time out, but he could make history in becoming the first to complete the Chester Cup / Northumberland Plate double since Ile De Re in 2012.
The Irish haven’t won the Pitmen’s Derby for 16 years since the Tony Martin-trained Arc Bleu got up in the dying strides to win in 2008 under Adrian Nicholls.
Behind the 5-year-old, in fifth, last time was Grand Providence who is a consistent type. His trainer, Andrew Balding, has never won the Northumberland Plate before, but has four horses left in at the five-day stage.
Local trainer Brian Ellison used to attend the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate with his father many years ago. Ellison has won the Beeswing Stakes, Gosforth Park Cup and Eider Chase but is yet to win the biggest prize of them all when it comes to racing in the North-East.
Speaking ahead of this weekend, he said: “I like to win every race, it would be good on the CV that I have won as I have won the Eider, Beeswing and Gosforth Park Cup and obviously it is my local track as well so it would be nice.”
At the five-day stage Ellison has kept three potential runners in who are all represented by the same connections in Onesmoothoperator, Tashkan and Chillhi.
He added: “Onesmoothoperator loves the track! He loves all weather; he runs well at Newcastle providing it is not riding too deep. He worked on Saturday, and is an absolute great form. Tashkan is probably one of the best stayers I have trained. In fact, he is the best stayer I have trained. Hopefully Chillhi will get into the consolation race.”
Latest Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate odds: Pledgeofallegiance 8/1f, Alphonse Le Grande 10/1, Grand Providence 11/1, Zoffee 12/1, Duke Of Oxford 14/1, Onesmoothoperator 14/1, Prydwen 14/1, Trooper Bisdee 14/1, 16/1 BAR
The Jenningsbet Nun Street Newcastle Open Now Chipchase Stakes (G3) also takes place at 2:04pm this Saturday ahead of the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate. 16 entries have been made and dual Group 1 winner Kinross could make his belated seasonal reappearance in this as connections have targeted an Autumn campaign with the now 7-year-old.
