PROVIDED the rain stays away, long-distance raider Zibeline (3.20) is worth an each-way punt in this afternoon's Foster's Lager Northumberland Plate.

"He's a good horse as long as the ground is reasonably fast," said trainer Rod Millman from his Devon base, adding, "It has always been the early season plan to avoid Royal Ascot in favour of this race."

Since the going was near to rock hard for virtually all five days of the Royal Ascot festival, Millman's tactics of waiting for the £140,000 Tyneside showpiece may yet be unhinged by the somewhat damp forecast.

But just like tipping racehorses, it seems to me trying to predict the weather in this country is a fairly inexact science, thus the Meteorological Office could easily be way off the mark, handing Zibeline an excellent opportunity to take the money.

The selection's credentials are solid enough, having won over a mile-and-five-furlongs at Newbury last season off an official rating of 80.

He's just 1lb lower today and should arguably be even better suited by the stiff two-mile trip of the Pitmen's Derby.

Even more crucial is the featherweight of just 7st 13lbs set to be carried by Zibeline. For most of his racing career he's been lumping much nearer to ten stone on his back and I've a feeling that with such a low weight the five-year-old will think he's running loose without a saddle or jockey around Gosforth Park.

As far as starting price is concerned, at around 33-1 Zibeline represents far better value than either of the two market leaders, Mr Dinos and Riyadh, neither of whom are guaranteed to have recovered from the hard races they both had at Royal Ascot.

Much more of a danger, and the one I will be having a "saver" on, is John Dunlop's Fantasy Hill, the clear-cut winner of the two-mile--two-furlong Chester Cup in May.

* Proud Boast gave fifth season trainer Geraldine Rees her biggest success in dramatic fashion under Tony Culhane in the £35,000 Northern Rock Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle last night.

It looked a question of how far the favourite Salviati would win as he cruised into the lead with about a furlong to run, but Culhane produced the courageous Proud Boast with a strong burst on the rails to get in front in the last few strides to win by half a length.

Mrs Rees said with a smile: ''That is our biggest win by far and it is doubly pleasing because Proud Boast was bred by her owner Joe Gittins who also bred her in partnership with my father (Capt Jimmy Wilson).

''I have entered her for the Ascot Hong Kong Handicap over five furlongs on July 28 and depending on how she goes there I would love to win a Listed race with her if all goes well.''

Seb Sanders flew north after completing a treble at Wolverhampton and added to his score when Desertion, making her racecourse debut, kept up her trainer Sir Mark Prescott's good run in the Ospray Services Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Brian Ellison celebrated his 50th birthday in style by sending Scramble out to win the Bollinger Champagne Challenge Series Handicap in the very capable hands of Jamie Moore.

Moore produced Scramble to lead with a furlong and a half to run, and he kept him going well to pass the post with one and three quarter lengths to spare over Paradise Green.

Get more racing online at www.racing-north.co.uk.