Northumberland Plate horse-by-horse guide

Sir Mark Prescott's lightly-raced gelding is a dual course winner and won over the extended two miles on his seasonal debut last month. Flymetothestars has the added bonus of racing from stall eight, which can be considered a decent draw. 

Heading the weights is Peter Niven's 2016 Yorkshire Cup winner Clever Cookie. However, the nine-year-old has to overcome the widest draw of all in stall 20. 

Brian Ellison is hoping for better luck with Seamour, who was caught close home 12 months ago after having finished sixth in 2015. Seamour starts from stall 11.

James Fanshawe is triple-handed with Higher Power (stall 13), Lord George (17) and Sam Missile (19) as he bids to follow up last Saturday's triumph in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes with The Tin Man.

Godolphin lifted this prestigious prize in 2016 with Antiquarium and go for back-to-back victories with the Saeed bin Suroor-trained pair of Natural Scenery (10) and Good Run (four).

Mark Johnston has two runners in Jaameh (five) and Yorkidding (nine), with Keith Dalgleish saddling Maleficient Queen (three) and Corton Lad (one).

Here we provide a horse-by-horse guide to the entire field...

1 CLEVER COOKIE
T: Peter Niven J: Danny Tudhope
Form: 757-69 Draw: 20

Analysis: Redoubtable stayer used to contesting Group races but has not been near the top of his game lately. Dropped away pretty tamely last time in a race run in a monsoon at York but someone felt the nine-year-old still has something to give as he was sent off favourite on the Knavesmire.  

2 HIGHER POWER
T: James Fanshawe J: Tom Queally
Form: 221-22 Draw: 13 

Analysis: Chased home Ascot Gold Cup winner Big Orange in Pattern company at Sandown last time and boasts a remarkably consistent profile. The stable won this in 1995 with Bold Gait and have some momentum after The Tin Man's efforts at Royal Ascot, but he looks a stout galloper and could get done for a bit of toe. 

3 MALEFICENT QUEEN
T: Keith Dalgleish J: Graham Lee
Form: -52436 Draw: 3

Analysis: Put a string of five wins together earlier in her career but has not sparkled since last summer and no real signs of recovery last time at Haydock on soft ground. Jury is out too in terms of this trip and surface.

4 WINTERLUDE
T: Jennie Candlish J: David Nolan
Form: 121250 Draw: 16

Analysis: Handles the all-weather surfaces well but off since a below-par effort at Lingfield in the spring when he trailed in last and reportedly bled. Shrewd stable among the winners this month but has been done no favours with the draw. 

5 NATURAL SCENERY
T: Saeed bin Suroor J: Josephine Gordon
Form: 23-116 Draw: 10

Analysis: Has a couple of course victories on the CV, including over this distance, but not seen since unable to land a blow in the staying event on All-Weather Finals day at Lingfield. A return to this more galloping track and Josie Gordon back in plate are positives. 

6 SEAMOUR
T: Brian Ellison J: Ben Curtis
Form: 9522-3 Draw: 11

Analysis: Heartbreak for his local trainer 12 months ago after defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory when reeled in close home having struck for glory two furlongs out. Nice prep at York for another crack but 4lb higher in the weights. 

7 SUEGIOO
T: Richard Fahey J: Tony Hamilton
Form: 8-9925 Draw: 7

Analysis: Has a good record in this race and feasibly handicapped but his losing streak stretches back to the Chester Cup of 2014 and still likely to find one or two of the young guns too good even if putting his best foot forward.

8 FLYMETOTHESTARS
T: Sir Mark Prescott J: Luke Morris
Form: 161-1 Draw: 8

Analysis: Very progressive performer for a trainer who excels with this type and ticks an awful lot of boxes here in terms of course form and draw. He has an entry in the Irish St Leger but still looks quite raw and that would be the main drawback at the price.  

9 YORKIDDING
T: Mark Johnston J: Joe Fanning
Form: 323185 Draw: 9  

Analysis: Very consistent mare who has had an aggressive campaign so far but seems to thrive on the workload. She looks a likely pace angle and can be tough to pass at her best but evidence to date suggests she is better on turf.  

10 COSMELLI
T: Gay Kelleway J: Tom Eaves
Form: 118-08 Draw: 15

Analysis: Italian import who has had a couple of sighters in staying handicaps for his new yard. He raced prominently on both occasions before dopping away and there was some promise but surely not enough to suggest he will be off the mark on these shores in this event.  

11 SIR CHAUVELIN
T: Jim Goldie J: Paul Mulrennan
Form: 0-6271 Draw: 6

Analysis: Ran an eyecatching race in fourth 12 months ago in the Plate consolation event and looks more than ready to step up to the top table. Never able to land a blow in the Chester Cup but returned with a gutsy win at Hamilton and looks a serious player back up in distance.    

12 GOOD RUN
T: Saeed bin Suroor J: Fran Berry
Form: 01-206 Draw: 4

Analysis: His form figures over course and distance read 1-2 but a couple of efforts in the spring were below par, including at this track when dropped to a mile and a half. He remains unexposed and the fitting of some cheekpieces for the first time might just help re-focus the mind. 

13 JAAMEH
T: Mark Johnston J: Dane O'Neill
Form: 48-211 Draw: 5

Analysis: Hat-trick attempt following victories at Chester and Newmarket over 1m6f although scrambled home last time at HQ having idled up the hill in the closing stages. Steps up in trip but a fair chance he has more to offer. 

14 LORD GEORGE
T: James Fanshawe J: George Wood (3)
Form: 419-33 Draw: 17

Analysis: A very good second string to James Fanshawe's bow and would have been a strong fancy from these quarters but for a difficult wide draw. A longer trip is a bit of an unknown but two efforts this season suggest he could be better for it and handles an all-weather surface well. 

15 HOT BEAT
T: David Simcock J: Martin Harley
Form: /5-130 Draw: 14

Analysis: Finished third behind Natural Scenery over course and distance in February but gave up valuable track position to the winner that day when forced to come wide with his challenge. Given a break afterwards and had a fair recent pipe-opener so makes some appeal if able to defy a modest draw. 

16 MY REWARD
T: Tim Easterby J: David Allan
Form: 709-01 Draw: 18 

Analysis: Quite well fancied for this event 12 months ago but was rather swamped in the closing stages and finished in the pack. Arrives in winning form after getting the best trip around at Ripon and stable in some form now but seems happier dominating in smaller fields.

17 GAVLAR
J: William Knight J: Dougie Costello
Form: 418476 Draw: 12

Analysis: Among the outsiders but an interesting profile that includes a victory over course and distance in March. He stayed on to finish ninth in this race in 2016 and no forlorn hope but no Callum Shepherd, who gets a tune out of him, in the saddle. 

18 CHAMPAGNE CHAMP
T: Rod Millman J: Paul Hanagan
Form: 16-233 Draw: 2

Analysis: Trainer saddled the mighty Sergeant Cecil to win the event in 2005 and this year's hope has been running his race but looks like the handicapper might have his measure. Will be keen to get out and get on with it from a good draw but readily put in his place by Flymetothestars over course and distance two starts ago.  

19 CORTON LAD
T: Keith Dalgleish J: Rowan Scott (5)
Form: 7-1150 Draw: 1

Analysis: Won a couple of rapid-fire middle distance handicaps north of the border in May but subsequent rise up the ratings has seen him hit the buffers. Likes to race prominently and can utilise a good draw on that front but the trip is a real unknown. 

20 SAM MISSILE
T: James Fanshawe J: Daniel Muscutt
Form: 24-245  Draw: 19

Analysis: Completes the Fanshawe contingent and boasts winning form at Kempton so could benefit from a return to the all-weather. Ridden to get an extended trip at Goodwood last time but did not make much of an impression in the closing stages and goes up in distance once more.

CONCLUSION: Sir Chauvelin looks on the upgrade and can follow last year's placed effort in the consolation contest with victory in the main event from a handy stall.  Hot Beat could be worth chancing as well from out wide at an each-way price, while Lord George looks the best of James Fanshawe's three hopefuls but will need a good strategy from box 17.  

1. Sir Chauvelin
2. Hot Beat
3. Lord George

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