JenningsBet Northumberland Plate
Heritage Handicap,
Newcastle 15:10
£150,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus,
2m 56y, Class 2   
Saturday 29th June 2024

Boylesports

1 Onesmoothoperator 12/1
2 Evaluation 40/1
3 Duke Of Oxford 12/1
4 Too Friendly 16/1
20 ran Distances: 2½l, 1½l, ½l
Time: 3m 27.59s (fast by 5.21s)

Onesmoothoperator lived up to his name when cruising through to claim an emotional victory for Newcastle-born trainer Brian Ellison.

Born on Pitmen’s Derby day in 1952, Ellison celebrated his 72nd birthday yesterday. His long-held ambition to win this prestigious north-east prize was no secret, and Onesmoothoperator’s success ignited jubilant scenes in the winner’s enclosure at Gosforth Park.

Ridden confidently by Connor Beasley, the 12-1 winner surged to the front at the furlong pole on the nearside rail, comfortably defeating 40-1 outsider Evaluation by two and a half lengths.

Ellison said: “I’ve been wanting to win it for a long time and we knew we had him right. In the last two days, we were a bit worried about the surface being on the soft side, but the lads came in today and said it was riding a lot quicker.

“I told Connor not to worry about the pace, as I knew Tashkhan was going to be up there and made sure there was a good pace. They went a helluva gallop and when this horse is on-song, he’s some animal.

“Turning in I said ‘this has hacked up!’ Connor said he could have won on the bridle, but he’s a good horse when he’s right.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. I thought we’d won it with Seamour one year (2016), when he went clear and got caught, and we’ve come here trying to win it before and been disappointed.

“It’s always in the back of your mind that you’re going to get disappointed and it hasn’t sunk in that we’ve won it, but it’s fantastic.

“Connor used to come to mine to ride when he was a baby, as his mum and dad worked for me. We go back a long way.

“I’m from here and have got a lot of connections here and a lot of family and friends. It’s great for the north and great for Newcastle – it’s a great race to be in.

“It’s got to be (the best day of my training career). Everyone says ‘you’ve got to win the Plate’ and it’s nice to get the monkey off your back.”

Winning owner Patrick Boyle, also a proud Geordie, said: “It’s a big thrill, it’s the biggest race in the north east and I’m from just round the corner.

“He travelled brilliant and we knew the horse was in great form. He has to come off a strong pace and he did. Fair play to Brian and the team, they’re the guys that do it all.

“I think we’ll have a celebration tonight. Brian is a great friend and he’s got family here. It means a lot for him and I’m delighted.”

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JenningsBet Northumberland Plate
(Heritage Handicap)
£150,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 2m 56y, Class 2
20 ran
Going: Standard to Slow

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (12)    Onesmoothoperator 6 8-9 Brian Ellison Connor Beasley 12/1
2 (19) 2½ Evaluation 6 8-4 Lucinda Russell Andrew Mullen 40/1
3 (20) 1½ Duke Of Oxford 4 8-6 Michael Bell Tyler Heard 12/1
4 (8) ½ Too Friendly 6 8-7 James Owen Callum Shepherd 16/1
5 (15) 1¾ True Legend 4 8-8 Sir Mark Prescott Bt Cieren Fallon 11/1
6 (17) 2 Forza Orta 6 8-3 Kevin Ryan James Sullivan 22/1
7 (18) ½ Spartan Army 5 8-11 Alan King Billy Loughnane 7/1
8 (14) 1¼ Grand Providence 4 8-6 Andrew Balding David Probert 9/1
9 (6) ½ Spirit Mixer 6 8-7 Andrew Balding George Rooke 22/1
10 (13) ½ Zoffee 8 8-10 Hugo Palmer Harry Davies 16/1
11 (1) ¾ Yashin 5 9-7 Mrs John Harrington Scott McCullagh 15/2
12 (10) ½ Trooper Bisdee 4 8-6 5ex Sir Mark Prescott Bt Hollie Doyle 5/2F
13 (3) 2¾ Rathgar 4 8-2 Jack Channon Cam Hardie 40/1
14 (11) 4 Golden Flame 6 8-3 Deborah Faulkner Duran Fentiman 100/1
15 (9) hd Howth 5 8-4 Michael Appleby Marco Ghiani 16/1
16 (2) 4½ Artisan Dancer 4 8-2 Charlie Johnston Andrew Breslin 66/1
17 (4) 3 Solent Gateway 6 8-6 Hugo Palmer Rowan Scott 33/1
18 (5) ¾ Island Brave 10 8-6 Heather Main Ethan Jones 100/1
19 (16) 4¾ Tashkhan 6 9-13 Brian Ellison Ben Robinson 18/1
20 (7) 18 Zealandia 7 8-7 Ian Williams Josephine Gordon 22/1

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