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NEWCASTLE takes centre stage this afternoon with their biggest card of the year featuring the Northumberland Plate Handicap over two miles at 3.15. There are two relatively exposed stayers at the top of the weights both set to run off marks in three figures, but further down the list of 20 runners there are several lightly raced sorts set to run off much lower marks in receipt of plenty of weight.

Runner-up in the 2022 running off a rating of 92 behind the mighty Trueshan and then a never nearer ninth of 20 last year off 91, veteran performer Spirit Mixer is set to run off 89 here on the back of a cracking second at Goodwood. He will be many people’s idea of the each-way play with enhanced place terms from many bookmakers and I will be having a saver on the Andrew Balding-trained runner, but my main wager will be on the massive outsider INTINSO.

I think that the five-year-old is a fascinating contender set to run over this stamina sapping trip for the first time in his 14 race career. His two wins so far have come over a mile in a novice here at Newcastle on his career debut and then over a mile-and-a-half on his seasonal debut last year at Wolverhampton defying a rating of 90.

Following eight runs since then and having undergone wind surgery, the son of Siyouni is now down a rating only one pound above his last winning mark. From his draw in box number eight will give jockey Sam James a choice of where to place him early on, but I think he will be given a chance to get into the race rather than racing prominently and gradually creep closer as the big field emerge from the back straight. Of those at the top of the market, I have the most respect for Who’s Glen who looks made to measure for this type of contest.

The Plate Consolation at 2.40 looks an even more competitive event with the betting likely to be headed by the progressive Godsend with the Sir Mark Prescott-trained gelding just missing out on a place in the main race. He has won his last four starts off marks ranging from 65 to 80 and now races off 87. I think you can dismiss the workmanlike style of his last success at Nottingham as he had to make his own running and only got on top from about a furlong-and-a-half out down the long home stretch there.

The nod for value purposes though goes to the mare Churchella, who has course figures of 1453 at the Gosforth Park track and warmed up for this task with a one-paced effort over a mile-and-three-quarters at Doncaster when she really didn’t stand a chance off a very slack pace in a small field.

This assignment will suit the daughter of Churchill so much better and she is preferred to the aforementioned Newmarket raider and the Charlie Johnston-trained Dreams Adozen.

As far as the rest of the Gosforth Park card is concerned, I shall also be having an interest in SPYCATCHER (nap) (2.10) in the Group Three Stakes and TELEMARK in the seven-furlong handicap at 3.45.

The last named is particularly interesting having just his second start on an artificial surface. His first came only three outings back when he was an eyecatching seventh of 13 behind Ferrous over six furlongs here. The Simon and Ed Crisford entry ran way better than his finishing positions suggests at Chester and York since that run and anything close to a double-figure price will do for me.

Elsewhere, OMAN (Chester, 3.35) could surprise at an each-way price, while PERFECT PART (4.10) looks very interesting with young Shay Farmer taking seven pounds off her back in the seven-furlong, class-three handicap. The youngster’s last couple of runs at Musselburgh and York suggest that this is her trip nowadays and she will get the chance to run off her lowest career handicap mark to date after running in black type races as a juvenile last season.

Over at York, there are some enticing wagers to be had and top of my punting shop will be THEME PARK in the class three at 1.55.

The Nigel Tinkler-trained runner won off a 2lbs lower mark of 78 over the course and distance 11 months ago and looks ready to strike again here at the main expense of hat-trick-seeking top-weight Cadarn.

The feature Group Three Criterion Stakes (2.25) looks to have plenty of pace to it and that should suit hold-up merchant LAKE FOREST if he has overcome his Royal Ascot exertions in the Queen Anne Stakes last week. This will only be his 12^th career start and he is taken to pounce late and see off the three-year-old filly Formal.

Later on, the Dash winner, JM Jungle should make the market in the big five-furlong handicap at 3.00. Democracy Dilemma is almost certain to take the field along at a rate of knots and I just wonder if he could set the race up for stable-mate and top weight SEVEN QUESTIONS. The selection was far from disgraced on his opening start in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket and is set to run in his first handicap since way back in August 2023.