Cole to Newcastle
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Editor /
23 June 2007 /
Withdrawals from today's Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot could have significant knock-on effects for next Saturday's major handicap, the John Smith's Northumberland Plate, aka the Pitmen's Derby.
Rayhani and Strategic Mount, confirmed fast-ground specialists, have been scratched from Ascot following rain which has turned the ground very much on the soft side of good.
Both are among the entries for Newcastle's prestigious handicap next weekend and the interesting one could be Strategic Mount, whose trainer, Paul Cole, has won three times in the last 10 years with Windsor Castle, Cyrian and Archduke Ferdinand.
The Betfair ante-post market for the Northumberland Plate is headed by Chester Cup winner Greenwich Meantime on 5.2 with Rayhani on 12 and Strategic Mount on 17.
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