Horse Racing Editor•15+ Years of Experience, Horse Racing Analyst & Tipster
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
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Newcastle races. (Getty)
The most valuable race staged on an artificial track in Britain will take place at Newcastle on Saturday, as 20 top stayers battle it out in the Northumberland Plate. This historic two-mile handicap was first staged in 1833, and was switched from turf to tapeta when Newcastle opened their all-weather track in 2016.
Here's our free guide to the 2026 Northumberland Plate, including the latest odds, key recurring trends and our best betting tips.
2026 Northumberland Plate Odds
Name
Odds
Circus Of Rome
3/1
Dancing In Paris
8/1
St Etienne
8/1
Ride The Thunder
10/1
Team Player
12/1
Moon Over Miami
14/1
Bar
16/1
2026 Northumberland Plate Trends
18 of the last 19 winners had run at least once that season
18 of the last 19 winners either won or placed last time out
15 of the last 19 winners had either won around Newcastle or were having their first start at the track
15 of the last 19 winners had won at Class 2 level or above
15 of the last 19 winners were rated 93 or above
14 of the last 19 winners were either four, five or six-years-old
14 of the last 19 winners returned an SP of 14/1 or less
14 of the last 19 winners had won over 2m or further (3 of the other 5 were having their first start over 2m)
From the last 14 runnings of the Northumberland Plate, nine winners were rated 100 or higher. It's usually a very high-quality handicap. However, this year's top-weight, Prydwen, is rated only 103, and the bulk of Saturday's runners are set to race from marks between 90 and 93.
The last two editions of this historic handicap have been similar in their make-up, and the top four finishers on both occasions carried less than 9-00. Siding with one towards the lower end of the weights seems like a sensible approach.
2026 Northumberland Plate Ante-Post Tip
RIDE THE THUNDER (12/1) looks the type of unexposed stayer who could really take to this searching test. Roger Varian's four-year-old has been beaten by Valiancy on his two most recent starts, finishing second and third behind that rival on either side of a winter break.
Ray Dawson's mount claimed a narrow victory in a ten-furlong maiden at Nottingham last June, before fourth-place finishes in handicaps at Ascot and Goodwood. Ride The Thunder kept on strongly when tackling 14 furlongs for the first time at Haydock in September, but he found Valiancy a little too classy on the day.
Valiancy - who was fancied for this handicap before being removed from the field - again proved too strong when the pair reappeared at Hamilton. Varian spoke to the press after that two-length defeat and suggested that Ride The Thunder would improve significantly for the outing.
Ray Dawson's mount has landed a lovely draw in stall seven, and will carry just 8-13 into Saturday's main event. Ride The Thunder has never raced on the all-weather before, and two miles is an unknown. Yet, there's no doubt that this well-bred son of Night Of Thunder remains open to plenty of progress, and his running style should be well-suited to this testing trip.
Align The Stars (yellow) wins The Virgin Bet Queen's Prize Handicap at Kempton. (Getty)
2026 Northumberland Plate Tip 2
A lower draw is often favoured in the Northumberland Plate. The first five home last year were all drawn in single-figure stalls. However, seven of the last ten winners were drawn in stall 10 or higher, and we've seen horses win from stalls 13, 14 and 17 in recent years. Luck in running is always required, but horses can win this handicap from any of the 20 stalls.
ALIGN THE STARS (20/1) will spring from stall 14, and Charlie Johnston's stayer shouldn't be underestimated.
Having struck at Glorious Goodwood in 2024, Johnston was forced to run his gelding in some high-profile races. Align The Stars wasn't beaten far in the Further Flight Stakes at the start of the following season, before largely struggling in top-quality, large-field handicaps, recording just two placed efforts during the remainder of the turf campaign.
Align The Stars claimed his first all-weather victory at Kempton in March, carrying 9st 9lb to success in the valuable Queen's Prize. Danny Muscutt's mount then went down fighting on his return to turf in the Betfred Heritage Handicap at Newmarket, but struggled on his most recent outing in another hot handicap at Goodwood.
Johnston's stayer can throw in the odd stinker, but he's certainly a very capable performer on his day and should be suited by the make-up of this contest. Muscutt returns to Align The Stars, and he's capable of landing a blow off a mark of 97.
Horse Racing Editor • 15+ Years of Experience, Horse Racing Analyst & Tipster
Jon has been a sports writer and tipster for over ten years. Over the last six years, he has become completely immersed in all things horse racing. Every race is a puzzle that he is eager to solve.
Favourite races over jumps would include the Brown Advisory Chase (RSA) at the Cheltenham Festival and the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury. On the flat, the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown is the race that excites most each season.
Favourite horses of all time include Vautour, Laurens, Road To Respect, Topofthegame, Saint Calvados and Elegant Escape.
