Ride The Thunder can storm to victory in the JenningsBet Northumberland Plate (Heritage Handicap) at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon. Roger Varian's four-year-old son of Night Of Thunder steps up to 2m½f for the first time in the 'Pitmen's Derby'. Despite having only one win from eight career starts, he has run well in defeat, notably when second over 1m6f at Haydock last September, beaten three-quarters of a length by Valiancy.
Ride The Thunder primed for longer trip
Valiancy was taken out of the Plate due to a quick turnaround after a luckless run in the Ascot Stakes. Ride The Thunder, gelded over the winter, made a pleasing return when third at Hamilton behind Valiancy again. That run should have him spot-on, and the step up in trip can bring out the required improvement.
Other contenders include Circus Of Rome, winner over 1m4½f at Newcastle last June, and Saint Etienne, trained by Brian Ellison.
Wiltshire can take Chipchase Stakes
William Haggas' Wiltshire can win the Group Three Jenningsbet Chipchase Stakes. The six-year-old gelding is a three-time course and distance winner, including on seasonal return in April after wind surgery. He couldn't build on that at Newbury but looks well worth the step up to Group Three level on a course he thrives on. Marvelman is the main threat.
Savrola aims for back-to-back Vase wins
Dianne Sayer's Savrola can land back-to-back wins in the Jenningsbet Festival Northumberland Vase Handicap. The seven-year-old won the 2m½f consolation race last year, leading for much of the contest. He hasn't won since, finishing seventh of 11 at Chester last month. Only 5lbs higher than last season's success, he looks aimed at a repeat. St Faz and Arc Zoosve are dangers.
Bobby Bennu can win the Jenningsbet 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap. The Varian-trained five-year-old hasn't won since November 2024 but made a pleasing return when fourth despite a bad draw at Chester. He has run well in competitive handicaps and is now 2lb below his last winning mark.
Strike Red, an eight-year-old gelding, can score again over course and distance. He won over six furlongs at Newcastle in September 2021 and has eight wins in 50 career runs. A winner at Leicester in April, he ran well to be fourth at Epsom and is sure to be in the firing line.
Barnaby Rudge, a recent Nottingham debut winner for James Fanshawe, can triumph in the Pertemps Network EBF Novice Stakes. Billy Bathgate, an eight-year-old for Ewan Whillans, can take the finale.
Never So Brave can bounce back at York
At York, Andrew Balding's Never So Brave can bounce back in the Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes. The five-year-old was a revelation last season, winning the Group One Sky Bet City Of York Stakes. He has failed to fire in three runs since, but on a sounder surface can return to winning ways.
Jimmy Speaking can land the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Mile Handicap. Chris Dwyer's five-year-old started the season with wins at Doncaster and Southwell before finishing second at Newmarket. He disappointed at Epsom on softer ground but can rebound on good to firm.
Who's Lope, a recent Beverley scorer, can make it two wins from three starts stepped up to nearly 1m6f in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai For Bedding Handicap. Explosive Finnish, running well without winning, can end that run in the sprint handicap.
Other York winners: Casino Star in the novice stakes, Naana's Shadow in the dash handicap, and Double Parked in the amateur jockeys' handicap.
Brazilian Rose and Ruby's Angel at Chester
At Chester, Brazilian Rose can win the Listed Queen Charlotte Fillies' Stakes if stall 11 doesn't prove tricky. Ruby's Angel, a course and distance winner trained by Hugo Palmer from Michael Owen's stable, has plum stall one in the six-furlong handicap.
Other Chester winners: Cool Molly, Likealot, Shipshape seeking a hat-trick, and Taritino in the finale.
At Windsor, Angel Of Anfield can win the Sri Lanka The Wonder Of Asia Handicap for Tom Clover.
Red Letter can take Pretty Polly Stakes
At the Curragh, Ger Lyons' Red Letter, second in the Middleton Stakes at York, can get the better of Betfred Oaks heroine Thundering On to win the Group One Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes. Aidan O'Brien's Sun Goddess, runner-up at Royal Ascot, can win the Group Two Airlie Stud Stakes.
On Sunday at the Curragh, Benvenuto Cellini, a non-runner in the Epsom Derby, can bounce back in the Group One Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby ahead of stable-mate Christmas Day, who won the Betfred Derby.
