Onesmoothoperator can finally give Brian Ellison the victory he craves in the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.
The north-east of England native was born on Plate day and having come close in the past, would love nothing more than bagging the £81,000 first prize.
He has two chances, with top-weight Tashkhan certainly not out of it based on how well he ran in Group One company last year, but the one doubt with him is the all-weather surface.
There are no questions on that score with Onesmoothoperator, who loves Gosforth Park.
Not disgraced in the Easter Classic over an inadequate 10 furlongs on All-Weather Finals Day, he then chased the progressive Prydwen home in a valuable race at Southwell.
Kept fresh since then, he has fared the best of the Ellison pair in the draw with stall 12, which should keep him out of trouble.
There had been plenty of ante-post money for Alphonse Le Garde in the main event, but he missed the cut and instead runs in the Jenningsbet Festival Northumberland Vase Handicap.
He won the Chester Cup consolation race off a lowly mark of 73 with William Buick booked, so it was expected.
Hit hard by the handicapper, he is running off 81 this weekend with Hollie Doyle taking over in the saddle. But he still could be well ahead of that mark for shrewd connections.
Karl Burke enjoyed a great Royal Ascot and it could have been even better but for a couple of late setbacks to key contenders.
He runs two in the Jenningsbet Nun Street Newcastle Open Now Chipchase Stakes and while Clifford Lee is on Spycatcher who is a shorter price in the betting, the returning Cold Case could simply be a better horse.
Having not been seen for almost a year it may be a case of out of sight out of mind, but he won a Group Three on his return to action last year so clearly goes well fresh.
Fast ground caught him out in the Sandy Lane, he was then beaten half a length in the Hackwood and was a very fine fourth in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, in which Spycatcher was second, but he disappointed last time out.
That Group One effort against his elders last year reads well and now he is four, Cold Case could really take off.
Burke’s Teej A sets a fair standard in the Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies’ Stakes at Newmarket.
Her win at Chester could hardly look better, given she beat subsequent Coventry Stakes scorer Rashabar.
Teej A has won again since at Epsom and while that form took a knock when the second was beaten at Carlisle in the week, Teej A could do no more than win.
There are lots of potential improvers in the field but her experience should stand her in good stead.
King Of Conquest should prove hard to beat for Charlie Appleby in the JCB Fred Archer Stakes.
He is one of those older horses Appleby does so well with and as this race is for horses who have not won a Group One or Two, he fits the bill.
Noble Dynasty should give the yard a double in the Plantation Stud Criterion Stakes.
He beat English Oak at the Guineas meeting and that one is a real improver who has since bolted up at Haydock and won at Royal Ascot.
The step up in trip should enable Frankelian to break his duck in the Whispering Angel Handicap at Chester.
On his first run over 10 furlongs he made late gains at Salisbury last time out and off the same mark he can improve again.
Ed Walker’s Perennial did a lot wrong on debut but still won so can defy a penalty at Windsor, while the yard has strong claims of an across-the-card double as at Doncaster Balmoral Lady should be hard to beat in maiden company.
In Ireland Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking is a rock-solid favourite in the Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.
Placed in several Group Ones last season, she returned to action this campaign with an easy win and can progress even further.
IRISH NEWS YANKEE
NAP: Onesmoothoperator (3.10: Newcastle)
DOUBLE: Alphonse Le Grande (2.35: Newcastle)
TREBLE: Teej A (2.15: Newmarket)
YANKEE: King Of Conquest (2.50 Newmarket)
