30 June 2023 , 16:44
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A second shot of Zoffee can be the top order on the JenningsBet Northumberland Plate menu at Newcastle today.
A year on from tasting success in the consolation race for the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’, the Hugo Palmer-trained stayer returns for the main course, the £150,000 staying prize.
A winning chaser and hurdler for Philip Hobbs, Zoffee has now established himself as a seasoned long distance handicapper on the Flat since switching codes in May last year.
In his last three starts he has finished third in the Cesarewitch, second in the Chester Cup and sixth in the Ascot Stakes.
At Chester he was caught late on by Metier to be beaten a neck and over two furlongs further at Ascot he was only beaten three and quarter lengths by Ahorsewithnoname.
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He probably wasn’t helped by his high draw and should be suited by a return to 2m off the same 95 handicap mark.
He has only run twice on the all-weather, finishing fifth at 1m as a two-year-old, and in the other captured the Northumberland Vase by two and a quarter lengths.
No horse has pulled off the Vase-Plate double yet. Carnwennan was sixth in 2020. In three attempts Cosmelli’s best finish was fourth. It’s time for Zoffee.
BERKSHIRE SHADOW (1.50) can show himself in a different county to his opponents when he steps down in class and distance at Newmarket.
After two creditable efforts in Group 1 company, finishing third in the Lockinge Stakes and fifth in the Queen Anne Stakes, the Group 3 Criterion Stakes should be much more in his comfort zone.
He started the year winning over this 7f distance at Wolverhampton and then won the All-Weather Mile Championship at Newcastle, and the July course’s uphill finish should play to his strengths.
Last year’s St Leger runner-up NEW LONDON (1.15) can bring some cheer back to the Charlie Appleby stable on his return to action in the Listed Fred Archer Stakes.
Godolphin endured one of its worst Royal Ascot ’s in years, with neither Appleby nor Saeed bin Suroor among the winners.
The Appleby string failed to win a single Group race in June, yet still operated at a 24 per cent strike.
New London progressed through the ranks last year, winning the Gordon Stakes and starting favourite for the St Leger but didn’t stay.
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He has had wind surgery over the winter and now runs a tongue tie for the first time. He has a King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes entry which could be on his radar if he picks up where he left off on this return to a mile and half.
Trainer Charlie Appleby: could be celebrating a return to the TV spotlight (PA)By then the stable should already be among the winners with STAR OF MYSTERY (12.40) primed to follow up an 11 length win at Haydock.
Yorkshire’s newest Group 1-winning trainer Julie Camacho brings back JUDICIAL (12.55) for his first start since November in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes.
He won this three years ago but disappointed last year yet by the end of the season he had won at Beverley and finished second in a Listed race at Lingfield.
He may be 11 but he is still more than capable of winning again.
It’s already been a busy year for LEGENDARY DAY (1.30) who having his 11th start of the year in the Northumberland Vase.
He has won twice on this course since reappearing over hurdles on New Year’s Day and also won over 2m on turf at Ripon.
His run at Beverley last time was his worst for a good while and the booking of Tom Marquand suggests he is fancied by a stable which has sent out six winners from its last 14 runners.
SOLDIER’S MINUTE (12.20) can take advantage of a 5lb drop in his all-weather rating in the opening 6f handicap.
SELECTIONS
NEWCASTLE
12.20 SOLDIER’S MINUTE
12.55 JUDICIAL
1.30 LEGENDARY DAY
2.05 ZOFFEE
2.40 ZIP
3.15 ZAMAN DAAR
3.50 SHIMMERING SANDS
4.25 VALLAMOREY
NEWMARKET
12.40 STAR OF MYSTERY
1.15 NEW LONDON
1.50 BERKSHIRE SHADOW
2.25 UPSCALE
3.00 CHEALAMY
3.35 SPRING FEVER
4.10 BLUEFLAGFLYINGHIGH
CURRAGH
1.40 RAPID MISSION
2.15 MATRIKA
2.50 GREEK FLOWER
3.25 ABOVE THE CURVE
4.00 LAYFAYETTE
4.35 JUNGLE COVE
5.10 HIGHLAND RAHY
5.40 SHEISHYBRID
CHESTER
1.57 LIV MY LIFE
2.32 CROACHILL
3.07 ABERAMA GOLD
3.42 EQUATORIAL
4.17 O G BEACHWEAR
4.52 MILITARY TWO STEP
WINDSOR
2.10 HIGHLAND FLYER
2.45 MACANUDO
3.20 JIMMY FRANKHAM
3.55 SLY MADAM (NAP)
4.30 THE WHIPMASTER
5.05 WOOLHAMPTON
DONCASTER
6.20 BOLLIN MARGARET
6.55 KAIDU
7.30 ALSHINFARAH
8.00 SOLAR ORBITER
8.30 GOOD EARTH
9,00 NORTHERN SPIRIT
LINGFIELD
5.30 ROBUSTO
6.05 ZEBRA STAR
6.40 STAR OF EPSOM
7.15 QUEUES LIKELY
7.45 REGAL ENVOY
8.15 NIBRAS RAINBOW
8.45 DESERT ILLUSION
DOUBLE: SLY MADAM and NEW LONDON