Newcastle 3.20 - John Smith's Northumberland Plate (30th June 2007)

Newcastle is a great place for a night out.. Was there a couple of weekends ago; blokes heaven!

Fell in love with this race after Sergeant Cecil’s win a couple of years ago. Got my fingers burnt last year. This year will be a test of stamina based on current ground conditions. Short listed.

Juniper Girl, Al Eile, Macorville, River Alhaarth, Sentry Duty, Colloquial, Leg Spinner

Most of the winners in this race have come from a single figure draw position as high-drawn horses have to either race wide or drop in and lose ground early. Contestants also require good early pace to obtain a prominent position. However the odd high drawn horse has thrown a spanner in the works to the joy of bookmakers.

Favourites can usually be taken on with impunity and the only negative for Juniper Girl is her draw position which is neither here or there for a horse that likes to be held up. She’s destined to find some trouble in running.

One of my long term aims is to develop a system that identifies horses that seem to be one thing but are secretly something else. I plan to call this system “Transvestite” and Sentry Duty has such credentials in that he is considered to be national hunt horse but his record on the flat indicates something else .. “looks a smart stayer in the making, prob Listed class: unproven on fast grnd, keep on your side”

I keep coming back to Colloquial as the one left standing after elimination of the others on the short list. Interesting comments from the Racing Post

A lightly raced six-year-old, he plainly has plenty still to offer and it will be interesting to see whether connections elect to aim him at the Northumberland Plate.

Connections have given him his chance in this race and price compensates high draw.