SILVESTRE DE SOUSA: Newcastle Saturday

I‘m looking forward to riding on Northumberland Plate Day at Newcastle which is their big day of the year. It will obviously be a depleted crowd this season, but they are very knowledgeable bunch and there is always a great atmosphere. Last week at Royal Ascot was one of those weeks where nothing quite went right. I had plenty of near misses including Art Power and Go Bears Go, but that’s often the way it is.

Before looking at Saturday’s card, I just wanted to write a few words about Mahmood Al Zarooni who is about to make a return to the training ranks after serving an eight-year ban. We live in an age where everyone is quick to put the boot in and social media is a toxic space. Therefore, what I’m about to say won’t sit comfortably with the haters. I want to wish him the very best of luck on his return. He knows more than anyone what he did was wrong, but he has served his time and deserves a second chance. I’ve known him for a long time and what he did was terrible, but underneath all that I promise you is a good human being who is so sorry for what he did.

Looking ahead to Newcastle on Saturday and I’ve three nice rides to look forward to…

SATURDAY

NEWCASTLE

CHIL CHIL – 2.20pm (Chipchase Stakes)

My first ride of the day is Chil Chil for King Power racing and Andrew Balding in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes. She was ruled out of the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot last Saturday as the ground had gone against her, so this seemed a sensible alternative. This will be her first try in Group company, but she deserves a crack at this on the back of two nice runs at Newmarket this season. She has some nice form on the all-weather so the surface will be no bother and we are hopeful of a good run. It does look a good race though with the likes of Diligent Harry and Khuzaam who both look specialists on the all-weather.

CLEONTE – 2.55pm (Northumberland Vase)

I can keep the King Power silks on for the Northumberland Vase where I partner Cleonte (pictured below), again for the in-form Balding team. The return to this surface should help as he hasn’t seemed to enjoy the rain-softened ground of late. He won nicely at Kempton back in March and the harder they go here the better, as he loves to pick up the pieces off a strong gallop. There look to be plenty ahead of the handicapper in this with Zeeband and East Asia looking the obvious two. I should also mention my old friend Rochester House who got tired late on in the Ascot Stakes last week. He’s better than that and it would be no surprise to see him bounce back from a good draw.

THEMAXWECAN – 3.30pm (Northumberland Plate)

The big race of the day at Newcastle is the Northumberland Plate where I’m looking forward to getting back aboard Themaxwecan. He didn’t show at Ascot at all last week, but Mark Johnston’s horses can always be forgiven a bad run and more often than not they bounce straight back. I’ve always had a soft spot for this horse having ridden him to win on his debut a few years back and he must have a squeak at a big price. The surface should be fine too as he’s won his only race on the all-weather. Looking at the others and obviously Trueshan is the one I fear despite having to carry such a big weight. Rhys (Clutterbuck) is a good young jockey and the pair will be hard to beat.

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