MICHAEL BELL is hoping tomorrow’s John Smith’s Northumberland Plate will prove the ideal race for The Betchworth Kid.

The four-year-old has not won in his four runs thise season, but has been placed three times in Listed contests.

Top apprentice Jamie Kyne is on board for the return to handicap company and Bell is hopeful of a big run in the Pitmen’s Derby at Newcastle.

The Newmarket trainer said: “We’re hoping the big field of a handicap like this might well suit the horse rather than running in smaller fields like you tend to get in those staying Listed races. He’s in good form and I think the hustle and bustle of a race like the Northumberland Plate will help him. I think there is a bit of rain forecast on Friday night and any they get would be extremely welcome.

“Bearing in mind his rating, we always intended to use a claimer and Jamie was on our radar about a month ago.

“Hopefully we’ll be saying afterwards ’luckily we got him’, but we want to be saying that after the race rather than before it. He goes there with a fighting each-way chance and I’m glad he’s got 9st 2lb rather than 9st 10lb like the top-weight has.

“In some years our rating might well have been top-weight so that is a plus.”

Meanwhile John Oxx will leave a decision on Sea The Stars’s participation in Sunday’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh until as late as possible.

Oxx is hoping his dual Classic winner can add another at the Curragh on Sunday but won’t commit the 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby winner to run until he has seen the state of the going.

The Irish trainer said: “The ground on the round course until you get to the straight is good to firm, but when you come off the hill into the straight it is just genuine good ground.

“It’s fine at the moment and I think most people would be happy with the ground as it stands, but from our point of view the forecast has changed and there is an increased risk of showers tonight and tomorrow.

“There could be some showers over the weekend also but there is a lesser risk on Sunday. We’ll just have to wait and see how much rain falls, how heavy the showers are and what effect it has.

“We’ll make a final decision when we can make it and I’d imagine we’ll declare him tomorrow. I think on Sunday morning we’ll know if we’re out of the woods or not.”

TODAY’S NAP: Jilly Why (6.40pm Chester).