Al Eile out but Bukit favourite for Plate

Jun 24 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

TRIPLE Aintree Hurdle winner Al Eile will not run in Saturday’s John Smith’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle, but Ascot Stakes fourth Bukit Tinggi has been installed as favourite.

John Queally’s dual-purpose winner was not among the 41 entries for the extended two-mile handicap at yesterday’s five-day declaration stage after he scoped badly over the weekend following a disappointing work-out.

His County Waterford trainer was hoping his eight-year-old, who landed the Aintree Hurdle for a third on John Smith’s Grand National day, would make his return in this Saturday’s race, which is known affectionately as the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’.

Al Eile was fourth behind Juniper Girl 12 months ago, but now will not have the chance to better that finish.

Queally said: “He worked a little bit below par at the weekend and a subsequent scope revealed all was not right with him.

“He scoped bad so we had no choice.

“It’s disappointing, but it could be worse, it could have been before Aintree.

“We’ll take it easy for a few weeks and look at an autumn campaign. We will start him off on the Flat, possibly the Ebor, one of those kind of races later on.”

Bukit Tinggi, on the other hand, looks set to take his chance despite having only run last week at Royal Ascot.

Michael Jarvis’s four-year-old, who is a best-priced 8-1 market leader with bet365 and generally 7-1 with most of the other firms, won at both Haydock and York before finishing a close-up fourth to Missoula in the Ascot Stakes last week.

That contest was over two-and-a-half miles and connections are hopeful that the drop back in trip can help overturn the form on Suzy Smith’s winner, who along with runner-up Mamlook, is also entered on Saturday.

Bukit Tinggi is said to have come out of the race well, but Jarvis is not sure whether regular partner Philip Robinson will again be in the saddle.

The Newmarket trainer said: “He seems fine. Obviously we’ve done very little with him since he got back and we’ll just try and freshen him up.

“It looks like we should get in but if the top-weight runs (Eastern Anthem), I think I’ll be looking for a new jockey as he will only have 8st 2lb.

“He came there to win last week and he just ran out of fuel close home over that trip. But he’s an intended runner on Saturday.”

Bookmakers BlueSquare have Bukit Tinggi as their 7-1 favourite. Highland Legacy is next best at 8-1 and he is trained by Michael Bell, who saddled last year’s winner Juniper Girl.

BlueSquare spokesman George Primarolo said: “This has all the hallmarks of being another competitive renewal of the Northumberland Plate and our odds-compilers were particularly taken with the run of Bukit Tinggi at Royal Ascot last week.

“The drop back to two miles should be in his favour but we’ll be keeping a close eye on (the Tony Martin-trained) Arc Bleu and (David Pipe’s) Mamlook.

“Both come from stables that are past masters at landing gambles in this type of event and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the money come for either of these horses in the days leading up to the race.”

Meanwhile

TODAY’S NAP: Lord Of The Reins (3.15pm Beverley).