Another plateful for Cole

Northumberland Plate specialist Paul Cole goes for his fourth win in the Newcastle marathon on Saturday.

This year, he relies on Mr Dinos, who finished second in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, and Archduke Ferdinand, last year's winner of the Newcastle two-miler known as the 'Pitmen's Derby.'

Mr Dinos was only beaten half-a-length in the Queen's Vase by Goldolphin's Mamool, and Cole's charge, who is favourite at around 5-1 with most bookies, looks very well treated at the weights for the £140,000 race.

The 7st 11lb that Mr Dinos is set to carry in the highlight appears to give the son of Desert King an outstanding chance.

Success could result in the three-year-old bidding for the oldest British classic, the St Leger at Doncaster.

Meanwhile, West Sussex trainer John Dunlop also has the Plate in his sights although he is not a regular Pitmen's devotee.

He has only had two runners in the last 10 runnings of the event but could be represented by the trio of Fantasy Hill, Harlestone Grey and Taffrail.

Chester Cup hero Fantasy Hill, who beat Rainbow High by two lengths at the 'Roodeye' track, is set be ridden by Richard Quinn and stablemate Harlestone Grey will be partnered by Kevin Darley.

Cover Up, second to Archduke Ferdinand in last year's Plate, was also on duty at Royal Ascot where he won the Queen Alexandra Stakes, but his connections think he needs more time to recover from his exertions.

The retirement of French trained Act One due to a hairline fracture of a cannon bone has left a big gap, classwise, behind Budweiser Irish Derby favourite High Chapparal on Sunday.

However, Sir Michael Stoute has announced that King Edward VII Stakes winner Balakheri - to be ridden by Pat Eddery - will take on Aidan O'Brien's classic star at the Curragh.

This will go some way to making the contest less one-sided.