COULD IT BE SECOND TIME LUCKY IN THE PLATE

We head north to Newcastle for the "Pitmans Derby" this afternoon.

A couple of cracking runs by ChiefofChiefs and Gulliver to place in the Wokingham Stakes last Saturday was exciting. Today, I am siding with just the one horse in the Northumberland Plate.

Australis finished runner up in this race last season and looks primed for a massive run this time round as well. He loves the all weather with a record of 4 wins and 4 seconds from nine runs. Yes, he has crept up the handicap to a mark of 96 but it has been well deserved. Today, he carries a nice low weight of 8-10 with David Egan riding. David rode him at Epsom last time out when he ran a solid race on good to soft ground finishing fourth to Midnights Legacy. Australis is well drawn in stall 7 and having turned five years old is capable of stepping forward again representing better value at the prices than unlucky Ascot loser Dubious Affair and Gold Cup absentee Trueshan.

Newcastle - 3:30

1 Point Each Way Australis 10/1 Skybet & William Hill paying 6 places.

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