MICHAEL FENTON, one of the most underrated jockeys, has a terrific chance to lift the £20,000 Cumberland Plate on Morgans Orchard (3.30) at Newcastle this afternoon.
Darryll Holland was originally pencilled in to partner the selection but cried off at the last minute, allowing super-sub Fenton to step in for the ride for the valuable mile-and-a-half event, switched from Carlisle to Tyneside as a result of foot-and-mouth restrictions.
After unsaddling his impressive scorer, Wind Chime, at Thirsk yesterday, in-form Barnstaple handler Tony Newcombe reported: "Morgans Orchard is very well handicapped and in great fettle.
"It's my fault he was beaten at Newmarket last time, I told Christine Hanniford to hold him up because the leaders would come back to the field, but they never did!"
In the one-mile Polar Productions Classified Stakes, Clever Girl (4.00) looks a real snip after a cosy success at Pontefract on Sunday.
Because of a hike in the weights, Tim Easterby's four-year-old would not in future qualify for the 0-60 contest as a result of her weekend victory, but as the rules stand she can still participate.
Milton Bradley's sprinters have hit the jackpot once again this term, Brevity in particular doing the stable proud with six wins.
Not too far behind is Bali Royal (5.00), successful in three of her last four races. Last time out at Brighton she won easily, so should be speedy enough to take the closing Colebrook And Burgess Corporate Handicap.
Mungo Park (2.45) is off on his travels back to Salisbury for the Aldershot Sprint Handicap.
He's been a shade unlucky on his latest two outings, winning the race on the "wrong side" over track and trip 11 days ago and encountering traffic problems at Haydock the time before.
Denton near Darlington-based Mungo Park is not the easiest individual to prevail upon since he needs holding up for a late charge. And sadly the master of executing hold-up tactics, Kieren Fallon, is not in the plate, although his backers could hardly ask for a better replacement in Richard Quinn.
* John Mackie's Accepting is an intended runner in the £120,000 Foster's Lager Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday.
The lightly-raced four-year-old broke his maiden tag at Musselburgh this month after being bought out of John Gosden's stable at the end of his three-year-old campaign.
That was his first try at two miles and connections are hoping for a bold showing this weekend in the 'Pitmen's Derby'.
''He's an intended runner and the horse is very well,'' said a stable spokeswoman yesterday.
''We were very pleased with his Musselburgh win and fastish ground would suit him well, although a downpour wouldn't stop him running. We're hoping for a good run and Lee Newman will ride.''
Accepting is a 33-1 chance with Ladbrokes for Saturday's contest.
* Forty-five horses remain in the John Smith's Cup at York on July 14 after forfeits for the £135,000 contest were revealed yesterday.
Richard Hannon's Blue Gold heads the weights on 9st 12lb, with Mastermind, who is to be offered for sale at the Tattersalls July Sales, next on 9st 11lb.
Man O'Mystery (9-10) was beaten just a head in last year's contest and could aim to go one better this time around.
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