Onesmoothoperator to win the 'Pitmen's Derby' again

CHRIS WRIGHT AIMS TO BE FIRST PAST THE FINISHING POST WITH TODAY'S TOP TIPS

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ONESMOOTHOPERATOR can secure victory in the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) (3.15pm) for a second successive year at Newcastle this afternoon.

The seven-year-old won the 'Pitmen's Derby' to give Newcastle-born trainer Brian Ellison a long-awaited first win in his 'home' race - the feature of the eight-race card at Gosforth Park.

The last horse to win the Northumberland Plate twice was Tominator in 2011 and 2013, although in recent years very few horses have tried to repeat in the prestigious two-mile handicap after their initial success, with 2014 hero Angel Gabriel the most recent when he finished fourth, beaten less than two lengths, in 2015.

Although Onesmoothoperator is 12lb higher than for his win in the North East 12 months ago and despite having scored just once more in eights starts since, he can triumph again.

Ellison's seven-year-old, who also won the November Handicap over 1m4f at Doncaster in November 2023, has run well in several races around the globe since giving his trainer that special 'home' win.

Onesmoothoperator won the Group Three Geelong Cup in Australia last October before running reasonably well to be 12th in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington the following month.

He also finished seventh, third and fifth at Group Three and Group Two level in Meydan earlier this year.

He was third to subsequent Ascot Gold Cup third Dubai Future in February and fifth in a Group Two contest over 1m4f the following month. He has clearly been aimed at a return to Gosforth Park, having been off the track since.