Polarisation & Antiquarium In Northumberland Plate

Time/Date - 16.15hrs local time/Saturday, June 25, 2016
Racecourse/Country - Newcastle/UK
Surface/Distance - Tapeta/2m 56y

Four-year-olds Polarisation and Antiquarium re-oppose in one of the UK's top heritage handicaps for stayers, the two-mile Northumberland Plate, which is run on Tapeta for the first time at Newcastle on Saturday, June 25.

The Charlie Appleby-trained runners met on turf in the Melrose Handicap over a mile and three quarters at York in August, 2015, with Polarisation getting up on the line to score by a head and Antiquarium, who was conceding 14lb to the winner, keeping on to be a close fifth.

Polarisation (9st 3lb, James Doyle) went on to win a 12-furlong handicap at Hamilton six days later and the son of New Approach comes into this race on the back of a clear second in another handicap over a mile and a half at Epsom Downs on June 4.

Antiquarium (9st 5lb, James McDonald) was successful in a Tapeta maiden at Wolverhampton in February, 2015 and also captured two turf handicaps over 10 and 12 furlongs at the start of last season.

The Echo Of Light gelding was runner-up in a valuable 12-furlong handicap at Goodwood in August and finished fourth over the same trip in another handicap over the same distance at Newmarket on his only start so far this year on May 21.

Charlie Appleby commented: "Stepping back up in trip will suit both Polarisation and Antiquarium.

"Polarisation ran a nice race at Epsom last time and I hope that he can put up another good performance.

"I was pleased with Antiquarium's run at Newmarket. He has a nice draw in stall three and I expect him to be competitive."

The field of 20 for the Northumberland Plate also features three-time All-Weather winner Steve Rogers and Arch Villain, who is unbeaten in two starts this year, plus No Heretic and Nakeeta, who were first and second in the Chester Cup.