Newcastle stages some quality all-weather racing this weekend, the highlight of which is tomorrow’s JenningsBet Northumberland Plate (3.15 p.m.). As I feared in last week’s column, my main fancy for the race has not made the “cut” and is instead in the consolation race.
Cerulean Bay was one of the many eyecatchers at Royal Ascot despite being out of the places
There are two main reasons why the quality of this meeting, run on an artificial Tapeta surface, is particularly high this year. Firstly, the generous level of prize money – the Plate, for example, is worth more than £77,000 to winning connections. Secondly, a lot of trainers whose horses prefer soft ground are observing the current heatwave and concluding a race on the all-weather is better than no run at all.
Sticking with the Plate, DANCING IN PARIS has a good chance of going one better than he did last year when he was second, beaten only a neck, to Spirit Mixer with the rest of the field three or more lengths away.
Trainer Ian Williams’ six-year-old gelding has dropped down to a nice mark again of 92, just 3 lbs higher than 12 months ago. Dougie Costello, who has winning form on Dancing In Paris, takes the ride and this race will surely have been the horse’s target for some time.
Ignore his last run on unsuitable soft ground at Epsom when I suspect he was not fit enough to do himself justice in any case. Back Dancing in Paris 1 point each way at 14-1 with Paddy Power, paying six places.
SHRIMP SHADY is the horse I hoped would get into the Plate and be double-figure odds to boot. Instead, he is in the JenningsBet Northumberland Vase (2.40 p.m.) at much skinnier prices.
I know that Andrew Balding had trained this horse for Royal Ascot but, once again, he failed to make the “cut”, this time for the Ascot Stakes. Shrimp Shady is an improving four-year-old stayer and I think eventually his best trip will be in excess of two miles.
However, a big-field, fast-run race should suit him tomorrow. Back him 1 point each way at 9-2 with William Hill, paying five places.
This column makes no apologies for once again championing the talents of Yorkshire handler Ed Bethell. I think he is an excellent target trainer and I am sure he will be around, getting better and better horses, for many decades to come.
At the start of this season, Bethell recently described his charge YORKSHIRE as a “big bull of a horse” so the six-year-old gelding probably needed his first run of the season at Ascot in May. However, the horse is now down to an official mark of 93, 5 lbs lower than when fifth in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot just over a year ago.
This means Yorkshire has an excellent chance tomorrow of landing the Newcastle’s Education Network Handicap (1.40 p.m.) over seven furlongs with Connor Beasley in the saddle. Back him 1 point each way at 8-1 with Sky Bet or Paddy Power, both paying four places.
That’s it tipping-wise for the weekend but I have two ante-post fancies as well. The first is another Ed Bethell horse who is due to run at his local track two weeks tomorrow (July 11).
DANGER BAY beat a decent field last month to win the Racing TV Zetland Gold Cup Handicap at Redcar, a race Bethell loves to target. Now the four-year-old gelding is due to run in the John Smith’s Cup at York, another prime target each year for Bethell at his local track. Admittedly, Danger Bay will have to run off an official of 102, 8 lbs higher than for his Redcar victory.
However, I have a hunch this Danger Bay is a really good horse in the making so back him 1 point each way at 16-1 for the John Smith’s Cup with bet365, Coral or Ladbrokes. His run at York at the end of last season was too bad to be true and he can show his true colours at the track next month.
My other suggested ante-post bet in CERULEAN BAY for another Yorkshire yard, that of David O’Meara. The trainer loves to target the big southern handicaps towards the end of the season, notably at Glorious Goodwood and specifically the Coral Golden Mile on July 31.
Cerulean Bay was one of the many eyecatchers at Royal Ascot despite being out of the places. Daniel Tudhope is one of the best jockeys in the country but his ride on the horse in the Royal Hunt Cup was definitely not his finest.
First, despite a good draw in stall 22, he switched his mount to the unfavoured far side, then eventually back towards to the near side, losing plenty of ground in the process. Eventually, the horse finished well and was fifth overall but second of 20 horses that finished broadly on the unfavourable far side group.
If you are able to watch a replay of the race, do so because you will see exactly what happened. My hope is that O’Meara does not run him again now between now and Glorious Goodwood because he can win off his current handicap mark.
Cerulean Bay, a five-year-old gelding, won two races at Goodwood last season and will make the “cut” for the Golden Mile so he ticks a lot of the right boxes for an ante-post bet. Back the horse 1 point each way at 16-1 with bet365, Ladbrokes or Coral, all paying four places. An outside “car park” draw in this race is always a major handicap but let’s hope that doesn’t happen.
Pending:
1 point each way Yorkshire at 8-1 for the Education Network Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Shrimp Shady at 9-2 for the Northumberland Vase, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Dancing in Paris at 14-1 for the Northumberland Plate, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places.
1 point each way Gethin at 9-1 for the Coral-Eclipse, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Danger Bay at 16-1 for the John Smith’s Cup, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Cerulean Bay at 16-1 for the Golden Mile, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
Last weekend: + 4.2 points
1 point each way Wise Approach at 10-1 for the Commonwealth Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Darn Hot Gallop at 16-1 for the Sandringham, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Sayidah Dariyan at 50-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Mithaaby at 66-1 for the Wokingham, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places. 5th + 12.2 points.
1 point each way Berkshire Sundance at 18-1 for the Queen Alexandra, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2026 flat season running total: + 18.225 points.
2025-26 jumps season: – 57.785 points on all tips.
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for seven full seasons of tipping: + 68.215 points on all tips.
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