The ITV cameras are on hand for one of Newcastle’s biggest races of the year the Northumberland Plate (1510).
The Gosforth Park track also has the Group 3 Chipcase Stakes (1404) and three other contests, while Newmarket’s highlight is another Group 3 the Criterion Stakes (1525), plus a couple of Listed crackers.
Let’s begin start off with a quick run through of our ITV tips, with the reasons why we’ve picked them further down the page.
If you fancy a punt or two, check out the Planet Sport race centre which will show you all the live odds, racecards and results.
Good luck and please gamble responsibly.
(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article’s first publication)
13:35 (Newcastle) Wiltshire
14:04 (Newcastle) Cold Case
14:15 (Newmarket) Teej A
14:35 (Newcastle) Alphonse Le Garde
14:50 (Newmarket) King Of Conquest
15:10 (Newcastle) Onesmoothoperator
15:25 (Newmarket) Noble Dynasty
15:40 (Newcastle) United Approach
The William Haggas-trained Wiltshire recorded a narrow success at Newbury two outings back tackling the trip in a lower level handicap. Rates highly as set to bounce back to that form in the Jenningsbet 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap.
Almarada Prince ran well at York finishing second among this company over six furlongs and has a big chance.
Batal Dubai won this race last year. Produced a smart fourth attempting a course and distance handicap two runs back and makes for appeal.
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.
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.
There had been plenty of ante-post money for Alphonse Le Garde in the Northumberland Plate, 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.
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.
Onesmoothoperator can finally give Brian Ellison the victory he craves in the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate.
The north-east 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.
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.
United Approach returned after a long break with an encouraging effort at Newbury finishing fourth attempting this handicap grade over six furlongs.
The Pertemps Network Handicap looks slightly easier and the four-year-old can build on that run, so will be a serious player.
Local Hero found success at Kempton contesting a lower level seven furlong handicap and makes for appeal.
Giant showed plenty of ability at Kempton two outings back when a close second tackling this trip. Up in grade and should be of interest.
