William Hill Northumberland Plate
Heritage Handicap,
Newcastle 15:30
£150,000 added, 3yo plus,
2m 56y, Class 2   
Saturday 26th June 2021

1 Nicholas T 33/1
2 Hochfeld 28/1
3 Rajinsky 16/1
4 Island Brave 16/1
20 ran Distances: ½l, ¾l, 1¾l
Time: 3m 31.88s (slow by 0.88s)

Racing with a 5lb penalty for a win at York two weeks ago, Jim Goldie’s veteran Nicholas T defied stall 17 in the prestigious handicap.

Settled right out the back by Ben Robinson, he got a dream run up the inside close home to deny Mark Johnston’s Hochfeld while Trueshan was just out of the places under his welter burden.

Jim Goldie’s nine-year-old, wearing a hood for the first time, was produced on the far side of the all-weather course to lead inside the final furlong and deny long-time leader Hochfeld, giving Robinson his biggest success in the saddle in the process.

Hochfeld had been prominent throughout the extended two-mile test with Australis, Rajinsky, Reshoun and the 5-2 favourite Trueshan among those up with the pace.

There was all to play for when the 20 runners turned for home in the prestigious staying handicap.

Hochfeld was proving hard to pass but Nicholas T, carrying a 5lb penalty for a victory at York two weeks ago, wore down Mark Johnston’s charge to take the £81,000 first prize by half a length.

Rajinsky, who crossed the line in fourth place, was promoted to third following a stewards’ inquiry with Island Brave demoted to fourth.

Trainers Quotes

Robinson said: “I’m lost for words. My only doubt was staying the two miles as he can be a keen-travelling horse. I switched him off out the back and he got a lovely run up. He put it to bed really well.

“It’s unbeatable. It’s a race that Brian Ellison, my boss, has wanted to win all his career and for me to win it, for someone else, is really good.

“Jim is a very, very good trainer and he always manages to get one or two decent animals. This horse has never put a foot wrong.”

Goldie admitted victory in the historic contest had long been an ambition of his.

He said: “It’s one of those races that was kind of on my bucket list.

“It’s a great race and a traditional race. Sir Chauvelin has been placed in the race before, but it’s a hard race to win.

“Nicholas T won over a mile and a half here (in November) by almost five lengths. Phil Dennis (jockey) said he couldn’t believe he picked up like that as stayers don’t. You saw that again today – from last to first.

“He had to go to York for a ladies race, which got him the penalty to get into this.”

Asked where the victory ranked in his career highlights, he said: “On the day it’s always very good.

“To be honest, when I won the Grand Sefton over the Grand National fences (with Lampion Du Bost in 2007), that was huge, and then I went and did it the next year with Endless Power.

“To win this race is great.”

Horses 468x60 Jpg

William Hill Northumberland Plate
(Heritage Handicap)
£150,000 added, 3yo plus, 2m 56y, Class 2
20 ran
Going: Standard (AW)

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (17)     Nicholas T 9 8-10 5ex Jim Goldie Ben Robinson 33/1
2 (15) ½ Hochfeld 7 8-13 Mark Johnston Ben Curtis 28/1
4 (14) ¾ Island Brave 7 9-0 Heather Main Ray Dawson 16/1
3 (19) 1¾ Rajinsky 5 8-7 Tom Dascombe Tom Eaves 16/1
5 (3) hd Mildenberger 6 9-11 Mark Johnston Franny Norton 11/1
6 (12) ½ Trueshan 5 10-4 Alan King Rhys Clutterbuck 5/2F
7 (7) nse Australis 5 8-10 Roger Varian David Egan 11/1
8 (8) shd Grandmaster Flash 5 8-11 Joseph O'Brien Sean Levey 14/1
9 (10) shd Mancini 7 8-7 Ian Williams David Probert 40/1
10 (18) nk Alright Sunshine 6 8-13 Keith Dalgleish Billy Garritty 20/1
11 (11) ½ Dubious Affair 5 9-0 Charlie Fellowes Jamie Spencer 11/2
12 (4) 1¼ Reshoun 7 9-2 5ex Ian Williams Andrea Atzeni 20/1
13 (20) nse Lucky Deal 6 9-0 Mark Johnston Andrew Breslin 66/1
14 (13) 1¾ Just Hubert 5 8-6 William Muir & Chris Grassick Graham Lee 14/1
15 (9) ½ Rainbow Dreamer 8 9-10 Alan King Jim Crowley 33/1
16 (16) 1¾ Stargazer 8 8-10 Philip Kirby Paul Hanagan 33/1
17 (2) hd Themaxwecan 5 9-2 Mark Johnston Silvestre De Sousa 33/1
18 (5) 1¼ Watersmeet 10 9-3 Mark Johnston Joe Fanning 50/1
19 (1) 4½ Galata Bridge 4 8-7 Dr Richard Newland Luke Morris 11/1
20 (6) 17 Sir Chauvelin 9 9-0 Jim Goldie Paul Mulrennan 100/1