Into the Valley as Balding’s charge can win Plate

VALLEY Forge can secure another decent pot by winning the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

Andrew Balding’s charge really pointed to his staying potential when landing the Melrose Handicap at York last year and while he could not follow up in another handicap run or when pitched into Listed company, the four-year-old has returned in decent form this term.

Gelded over the winter, he looked in need of his return at Newmarket and he duly took a leap forward when narrowly prevailing in a competitive heat at Haydock.

Having his first try over two miles, Valley Forge was staying on all the way to the line and a 4lb hike does not look insurmountable. The presence of Trueshan at the head of handicap ensures plenty are running off comparatively light weights and Valley Forge can take advantage.

Ebro River is on something of a retrieval mission in the Pertemps Network Chipchase Stakes after a couple of disappointing runs so far this term. He was a Group One winner for Hugo Palmer last term over six furlongs and was certainly not disgraced when stretched to seven furlongs in the National Stakes, coming home third behind Classic winner Native Trail.

However, he failed to sparkle on his final juvenile outing and switching back to six furlongs had yielded no joy in two outings so far this year, coming home fifth in the Abernant before taking fourth in France.

He is by far the best horse at the weights in this Group Three affair and if he can return to anywhere near his two-year-old form, that would be good enough.

Stablemate Ever Given arguably has much more obvious claims at Newmarket, where he goes for gold in the House Of Cavani Menswear Criterion Stakes.