Cesarewitch winner Withhold heads competitive final field for Northumberland Plate cracker
Last year's victor Higher Power, Royal Ascot hero Lagostovegas and Group winner Clever Cookie are also among the twenty declared for Saturday's showpiece
ANTE-POST favourite Withhold will be having his first start since bolting up in the Cesarewitch last October when lining up in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday.
Roger Charlton's talented stayer heads a competitive field of twenty for the £92,385 prize.
The five-year-old put up an astonishing performance in last season's Cesarewitch, leading almost the entire way before staying on strongly to win going away.
It marked him out as a possible Group performer of the future, but injury then got in the way and he's been on the sidelines ever since.
If back to his best, then even off a 12lb higher mark he would be a big danger to all.
However, trainer Roger Charlton isn't confident the five-year-old will be able to produce such a resounding display given that the tight bends of Newcastle are a completely different test to Newmarket's long, galloping straight.
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He told the Racing Post: “It’s common knowledge that Withhold has been slow to come to hand, and this will be his first run since October.
He’s in good form and ready for his first race, but I don’t see him quite as positively as I did before the Cesarewitch.
“His odds appear very short for a race of this nature, and I don’t think punters should get carried away. There are other races on the horizon.
"This looks a good starting point for him.
“The Melbourne Cup, which is a fantastic race with great prize-money, is still a long way off.
"There are a lot of potential pot holes along the way, but he is a lightly raced horse open to further improvement.”
Among the challengers taking on Withhold is Willie Mullins' Royal Ascot winner, Lagostovegas. The six-year-old did it easily in last week's Ascot Stakes, and although this is a drop back in trip and on a completely different surface, he only has to run under a 5lb penalty.
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Also lining up is last year's winner, Higher Power. The six-year-old produced a game performance in that contest to get the better of Natural Scenery (who re-opposes) but has been disappointing since then, and despite returning to some form last time out at Chelmsford, he'll need to improve if he wants to defend his title.
Other notables include Sir Chauvelin, who was a strong-finishing second in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot and now steps back up to a more suitable trip, and Charlie Fellowes' Prince Of Arran, who bids to build on an encouraging third in the Belmont Gold Cup last time out.
Ed Dunlop's Amazing Red, who produced an electrifying display at Newmarket last time to win going away, also lines up, as does Alan King's Top Tug.
Former Group winner Clever Cookie is taking his chance at the age of ten, as are Time To Study, Soldier In Action and Watersmeet, who head a strong challenge from the Mark Johnston yard.
The field is completed by Nakeeta, On To Victory, Lord George, Arch Villain, Curbyourenthusiasm, Island Brave, Byron Flyer and Cayirli.
Dubawi Fifty, who had a hard race at Royal Ascot last week, was a notable absentee.