Ground key to Juniper Plate challenge

/ Editor / 27 June 2007 / Leave a Comment

Juniper Girl has attracted consistent support for the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday with Michael Bell's filly looking likely to start one of the market leaders.

The daughter of Revoque has enjoyed a remarkably consistent career to date, having only once finished out of the first four home in her 13 outings.

A winner of four races, the highlight for connections came when she finished second behind Full House in the Ascot Stakes at the recent Royal Meeting.

Bell is convinced his charge would have won the Ascot race if the ground had been more kind to his four-year-old.

"She has shown all her best form with cut in the ground and you have to think, judged on her performance at Ascot, that if the rain had arrived, then she would have won the race," he said.

The heavy rains that have hit Britain over the past week have seen the Betfair price on Juniper Girl dry up with the best price currently available for the filly being 9.2.

The market is currently headed by Nosferatu at 6.4 with Chester Cup winner Greenwich Meantime (9.4) and Al Eile (9.2) the only other two horses trading in single figures for the marathon contest.