Rome All the Rage in Northumberland Plate Market

Saturday sees the north-east track of Newcastle stage its signature flat contest. Held over 2m56y, and offering £150,000 in prize money, the Northumberland Plate is among the most coveted staying handicaps of the season. Still referred to by locals of a certain vintage as the “Pitmen’s Derby”, that nickname recalls a time when the local miners were granted the day off to take in the action in Gosforth Park.

The north-east coal mines may be a thing of the past, but the great race remains the one flat contest that thrusts Newcastle into the racing spotlight. Always a competitive event, the 2026 edition has attracted a maximum 20-runner field, with the consolation event of the Northumberland Vase also selling out. The scene of stunning upsets and successful gambles in the past, this year punters have latched onto a Richard Hughes-trained star, who beat only one home last time out.

Circus the Choice of the Betting Ring

Having saddled Calling The Wild to claim the 2023 edition of the race, Richard Hughes knows the type needed to succeed. Without a runner in the 2024 and 2025 renewals, the champion jockey turned trainer returns with Circus Of Rome.

This son of Group 1 winning miler Circus Maximus has yet to win beyond 1m4½f or race over further than 1m6f. Nevertheless, the four-year-old was the only horse available to back at a single-figure price when the market opened. Beaten 11 lengths at Goodwood and 15 lengths at Sandown in his two appearances this season, he doesn’t leap off the page on current form. However, that market confidence suggests that this has been the aim all along, and a big run is expected. A winner on his only previous start at Newcastle, and boasting overall all-weather form figures of 6-2-2-1-1, it would be no surprise to see him step up considerably on his recent efforts.

Thunder to Roar for Varian?

Roger Varian has yet to win the Northumberland Plate. However, the Newmarket handler is no stranger to staying success, with wins in the Ebor Handicap, Yorkshire Cup, Queen’s Vase, and St Leger Stakes on his CV. Coming closest when saddling Australis to finish second in 2020, this year Varian sends Ride The Thunder into battle.

Also by a Group 1-winning miler, this son of Night Of Thunder boasts a similar profile to Circus Of Rome. Unraced beyond 1m6f, his sole win in eight career outings came in a 1m2f event at Nottingham. He’s yet to race on an all-weather surface, which poses a further question, but scores top marks for consistency, having finished in the first four in all eight starts.

Team On Target for Scotland?

With the Tartan Army’s World Cup hopes hanging by a thread following their defeat to Brazil, Ewan Whillans bids to give Scottish sport a boost with Team Player. Continuing the Group 1-winning miler as a sire theme, this one is by 2018 St James’s Palace Stakes champ Without Parole. He’s a bigger price than Circus Of Rome and Ride The Thunder, but ticks the course and distance box, having won over this track and trip on his seasonal return in February. Backing that up with an excellent fifth in the Chester Cup, he seems likely to be popular with each-way punters.

Defending Champ in the Mix

Prydwen, Aqwaam, and Spirit Mixer all boast a course and distance win to their name. Of that trio, the eye is drawn to Andrew Balding’s Spirit Mixer. Now eight years old, the Jeff Smith-owned runner will make his fourth appearance in the Northumberland Plate. A close second to Trueshan in 2022, nothing went right for him in 2024, but he bounced right back to cause a 25/1 shock in the 2025 edition. He’s 6lb higher in the handicap this year, which makes life tougher, but he hinted at a return to form when a close fourth in a Listed contest at San Siro last time out.

The 2025 runner-up Dancing In Paris is also in the line-up. Losing out by just a neck to Spirit Mixer, he is two pounds better off than that rival here and could be involved at the finish once again.

Martin and McGuinness Provide Irish Threat

Unusually for a high-profile British event, the Northumberland Plate hasn’t been a particularly happy hunting ground for the Irish in recent times. Ahead of this year’s renewal, Tony Martin’s 2008 hero Arc Bleu is the only 21st-century winner to hail from the Emerald Isle.

If the Irish are to end that barren spell in 2026, Martin may be the man most likely to do it with Zanndabad. Well fancied ahead of the 2025 edition, he was never in contention having blown the start. He is without a win on the flat since that effort, but has struck twice over hurdles and is three pounds lower in the handicap this time around.

Rounding out the Irish challenge is last year’s fourth-place finisher, Tribal Star. Representing Dublin handler Adrian McGuinness, this son of Sea The Stars has finished in the frame in 10 of his 13 all-weather starts and boasts form figures of 2-4-4 over this course and distance. A pound lower than for that most recent fourth-placed effort, he may not be far away.

Featuring a market gamble, the 1-2 from 2025, Irish challengers and intriguing outsiders, the 2026 Northumberland Plate is not to be missed. All eyes are on Newcastle for the 3:15 on Saturday afternoon.