Northumberland Plate 2025 Tips: Runner-By-Runner Guide & Race Preview

The three day Northumberland Plate Festival is the North-East’s most loved racing and social occasion of the year.

Known locally as the “Pitmen’s Derby”, the Northumberland Plate will have another maximum field of 20 runners this year. Let’s go through their chances, one by one, ahead of Saturday’s fixture at Newcastle Racecourse:

Onesmoothoperator (Brian Ellison)

Burdened with top-weight after last year’s victory, this gutsy seven-year-old will most likely put up a good fight, but will eventually succumb to his heavy saddle.

Roaring Legend (Hugo Palmer)

This is certainly a much easier task than running behind Illinois at Chester, but he still looks weighted to the hilt.

Lavender Hill Mob (James Owen)

Gredley family second string, who could well be tasked with setting the pace for his more fancied stablemate.

East India Dock (James Owen)

Winner of this season’s Chester Cup and went well in the Ascot Stakes. Hard to see him being out of the top three.

Pappano (Willie Mullins)

Last seen being pulled up in the Triumph Hurdle, however Mullins’ runner looks a canny purchase from the Gosden stable and he should be on the premises.

Imperial Sovereign (Philip Kirby)

A Frankel-gelding but the similarities end there. He’d be a shock winner from the sports betting for sure.

Faylaq (Jim Goldie)

Has registered just one victory on the all-weather – back in 2019 for William Haggas, with the turf being his forte nowadays.

Manxman (Simon & Ed Crisford)

A multiple winner of these staying races and a return to this 2m½f trip will help.

Duke Of Oxford (Michael Bell)

Ran poorly in the Chester Cup but does have a better record on the all-weather tracks.

Who’s Glen (Andrew Balding)

Has some decent all-weather form to his name, placing five times from six starts and he ran with plenty of credit in the Chester Cup. One for the shortlist for this weekend’s race.

Zanndabad (Tony Martin)

Formerly owned by H H Aga Khan when he was racing in France, but now trained by Tony Martin in Ireland. He’s a potential dark horse from a shrewd stable.

Charging Thunder (James Owen)

No match for stablemate East India Dock at Chester and is unlikely to turn a 25 length deficit around.

Intinso (Craig Lidster)

Tailed off in the Queen’s Cup back in April and will need a miracle after wind surgery to figure here.

Asgard’s Captain (Dylan Cunha)

Tackles this trip for the very first time, but his breeding may just give eek out the extra few furlongs he so requires. He’s an interesting each-way outsider.

Golden Rules (Thomas Faulkner)

Finished second in the 2023 renewal of this race and can be in the shake up if he retains any of his old ability.

Shajak (James Owen)

The six-year-old is a recent acquisition from the Gordon Elliott-stable and there should be no stamina concerns with him.

Spirit Mixer (Andrew Balding)

Put up a fair performance in the Chester Cup and went well at Goodwood last time. He’s never a 20/1 shot in the horse racing betting in my opinion.

Dancing In Paris (Ian Williams)

Ian Williams’ five-year-old races today off a really attractive weight, and his last couple of runs prove he’s on the verge of a spectacular effort. Perhaps it will be in the Plate?

Alrazeen (Gay Kelleway)

Five victories already for this relative youngster, but this is another level altogether.

Tribal Star  (Adrian McGuinness)

Second in the Marathon Handicap here in April, and any horse running off just 8st 6lbs is hard to dismiss.

Northumberland Plate Prediction for 2025: Asgard’s Captain (22/1, E/W)

*Odds accurate at time of writing – prices subject to change*