It’s ‘derby day’ in the north east and in Ireland and RAJINSKY can win the JenningsBet Northumberland Plate Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (4.20pm) at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon. While in the Group One feature at the Curragh TUESDAY can beat the boys to land the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (No GeldIngs) (3.45pm).
The Northumberland Plate, known as the affectionately as the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’ can go to Hugo Palmer’s Rajinsky. Palmer – who took over as trainer at former Liverpool FC striker Michael Owen’s Manor House Stables in Cheshire at the start of the season – almost provided his new boss with the perfect start in the Chester Cup with Rajinsky at the Boodles May Festival on the Roodee.
The six-year-old ran a fine race to be third behind Aidan O’Brien’s winner Cleveland and Coltrane in the prestigious handicap. That form was boosted at last week’s Royal Ascot with the Chester Cup winner Cleveland finishing second in the Copper Horse Stakes and runner-up Coltrane going one better when winning the Ascot Stakes.
