Famous as the home of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and Eider Chase, Newcastle Racecourse is also a significant player during the flat season. Saturday sees the biggest event of the year on the all-weather track with the 2025 edition of the Northumberland Plate.
First run around the Town Moor in Newcastle City Centre in 1833, this 2m½f contest switched to the Gosforth Park course in 1882, and there it has remained ever since. One of the biggest social occasions on the Newcastle sporting calendar, the event was particularly popular with the working-class masses in the early years. That tradition lives on in the “Pitmen’s Derby” nickname, which recalls the days when local mine workers enjoyed a day off to celebrate the event.
The days of coal mining dominating the Newcastle industrial scene have long since come and gone. However, the Northumberland Plate still sits atop the Newcastle racing menu. With £150,000 up for grabs, the race is also a smash hit with owners and trainers, seeing the Northumberland Plate – and the consolation contest of the Northumberland Vase – invariably reach their 20-max field capacity.
Such is the case in 2025, with 40 runners set to tackle the demanding course and distance in the space of 40 minutes on Saturday afternoon. As ever, the more talented runners head to the main event, but who does the market suggest may come out on top in this huge betting heat?
Who’s Glen the Choice of Punters
For much of the week leading up to the race, it was unclear who would start as favourite on the day. That remains the case, but for now, the market has settled on the Andrew Balding-trained four-year-old Who’s Glen.
Going in the famous George Strawbridge silks, this son of Gleneagles boasts the type of lightly raced profile punters find hard to resist. Whilst yet to win on the all-weather, he has filled the runner’s-up position three times and never finished outside of the top four in six outings. Last sighted finishing a slightly unlucky fifth in the Chester Cup, he looks primed to go well.
Doyle and Dock to Deliver?
Next in line is the horse who finished four spots ahead of Who’s Glen when landing the Chester Cup in May. Hailing from the James Owen operation, East India Dock is emerging as a dual-purpose performer par excellence.
A dual Grade 2 winner over hurdles, his final outing of the 2024/25 National Hunt campaign saw him go down by just a length in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle. Having reached a mark of 147 over hurdles, the son of Golden Horn looked potentially well in off a flat rating of 97 ahead of the Chester Cup. And so it proved, as he surged home around the outside to score by a widening one-length margin. Backing that up with a close sixth in the 2m4f Ascot Stakes, he has solid form claims if transferring that ability to an all-weather surface.
Pappano
Having conquered the National Hunt game on both sides of the Irish Sea, greedy maestro Willie Mullins is increasingly turning his attention to reeling in the major staying flat prizes. The Closutton colossus has yet to claim the Northumberland Plate, but it would be no surprise to see that change in 2025.
Pappano is the horse selected to fly the Mullins flag on Saturday afternoon, having suggested his career lies on the level with an error-strewn round in the Triumph Hurdle. Focussing on his all-weather flat outings, career form figures of 311 suggest it would be unwise to underestimate this son of strong stamina influence Nathaniel.
Wales to Rule?
If the Irish fail to upset the home team, perhaps the Welsh might. Hailing from the unheralded Monmouthshire yard of Thomas Faulkner, Golden Rules returns for a second crack at the prize. His first effort went well, just not well enough, as he finished a half-length second to Calling The Wind in 2023. On the downside, the fact he has raced just once since that effort suggests he has had his issues in the interim. However, a proven ability to handle the track counts for plenty, and he’s 4lb lower in the handicap than for that 2023 near miss.
Onesmoothoperator to Dial In a Second Win?
Onesmoothoperator helped locally born trainer Brian Ellison fulfil a lifetime ambition when posting a comfortable 2½l success in the 2024 edition of this race. One year on, he bids to become the first repeat winner since Tominator (2011 & 2013) and the first to successfully defend his crown since Tug Of War (1977 & 1978).
That 47-year wait for a back-to-back winner illustrates the scale of the task. However, the seven-year-old should find this easier than the Group class events he has contested of late. With Connor Beasley once again doing the steering, he seems likely to be a popular each-way option at a double-figure price.
Does the market have this right in rating Who’s Glen as the one to beat? Will the classy East India Dock have too many guns? Can Onesmoothoperator cling on to his title? Or will the winner come from Ireland, Wales, or further down the betting list?