A ROYAL invitation for Harry Bentley in Saturday’s John Smith’s Northumberland Plate lies in the hands of the weather.
Trainer Michael Bell has booked the 5lb claimer to ride the Queen’s Tactician, one of the leading contenders in Europe’s richest two-mile handicap.
But Bell harbours real concerns about the potential of soft ground in Newcastle and is prepared to withdraw the gelding, who finished second on his only start this season in a handicap at Newmarket last month.
The trainer, who won the Plate back in 2007 with Juniper Girl, has signed up Hayley Turner to partner his other runner Activate, winner of his last three starts and for whom testing conditions would be “perfect”.
Bell said of Tactician: “Unfortunately he doesn’t like soft ground and we will monitor the weather over the next 48 hours and then decide whether to declare him or not. We will wait until Thursday morning before deciding.
“His pedigree says he’ll handle soft ground, but he’s not a horse who will do what his pedigree says and I think he’ll be better on a faster surface.
“He is in great form and has been targeted for the race pretty much all season. It just depends what the weather does.”
CHRIS WRIGHT'S NAP: Miami Gator (3.35pm Carlisle).
