Scenery's A Natural For The Plate

Alex Peperell looks ahead to Newcastle and beyond

- Alex Peperell

NORTHUMBERLAND PLATE - NATURAL SCENERY (20/1)

This Heritage Handicap is often fiercely competitive, with the average field size being between 18 and 19 over the past ten years. In that period the race has been won by some very decent horses, most notably in 2010 with subsequent Grade 1 winning hurdler Overturn and also in 2015 when Quest For More emerged victorious before going on to win the Group 1 Prix Du Cadran.

Last year was the first time the race took place on the All-Weather and that is set to be the same for this year’s contest. That means the race now caters for a slightly different kind of horse, perhaps one that has proven form on the surface. Antiquarium was the winner of the inaugural running of the Northumberland Plate on the artificial track, despite having only raced on the all-weather at Wolverhampton twice, on his first two starts.

One that fits a similar sort of profile that I think could run a big race for the same owner in Goldphin is Natural Scenery. She’s a lightly raced four-year-old filly that I don’t think we have seen the best of yet. She has only had ten runs overall and only three this season, rated 103 she won’t have a problem getting in the race and if connections choose this contest as her next assignment then I believe she can make her presence felt.

In the All-Weather Marathon Championships at Lingfield last time she finished a disappointing sixth, but nothing went her way that day. She was drawn wide and raced around the outside the whole way after getting shuffled back. It payed to be close to the pace on that occasion and the first three home all got first run, kicking on around the final bend and that was that. I think she’s better than that and can prove so on the 1st July.