Withhold a class above as he makes all in Northumberland Plate to land week long gamble

WITHHOLD strode to a simple Northumberland Plate success after he got an easy lead around the Newcastle track.

Jockey Robert Winston kicked clear in the home straight and only Prince Of Arran made any ground on the impressive winner.

Withhold was cut into as short as 3-1 earlier in the week as bookmakers took action to try and prevent another re-run of the Cesarewitch.

Despite a hike of 12lbs in the weights, Roger Charlton's five-year-old made a mockery of his rating and pushed clear a couple of furlongs out having had the run of the race.

All eyes are now on the Melbourne Cup, confirmed trainer Roger Charlton.

His new rating is likely to see him gain a place in the big race but a stakes race could be taken in en route, with a potential clash with Ascot Gold Cup winner Stradivarius an option.

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Roger Charlton said: "We aimed to get him on a mark of 110, 111 for the Melbourne Cup and we've probably done that now. It should get him in on near bottom weight.

"Overseas races are worth a lot more and we'll work backwards from that.

"I doubt we'll see him much over the summer, maybe one race here and another in Australia beforehand.

"It was always the plan to come straight to the Northumberland Plate from Newmarket to protect his mark.

"He may have got it quite easy out in front but he's done it well either way."

Assistant trainer, Tom Charlton said: "That time [stakes race] will come at some point, whether it ends in Melbourne you can't rule him out. If that's what the owners want, to go down to Australia, it's on.

"We've now won a Cesarewitch and a Northumberland Plate, he's earned it.

"The way the pattern is now, that fits the profile of a Cup horse, and you'd have to think he could place in a couple of stakes races as well."

Jockey Robert Winston was surprisingly downbeat after the race though, and said punters shouldn't take much from the race as he had it all his own way.

He told ITV: "I got him out from the draw, we wanted to be positive but they handed it to me.

"He was pricking his ears out in front, absolutely loving it. Once he sorted his legs out in the home straight he absolutely loved it.

"Look, it was a very very steadily run race. It's on tapeta, you can't really look into it but you'd like to think he'd go the way of a Cup horse."

Withhold ran out a cosy 5-1 winner, with Prince Of Arran a commendable second.

Trainer Charlie Fellowes confirmed that his runner-up will head down under for the Melbourne Cup.