Zanndabad can change luck of the Irish in Plate

ZANNDABAD can strike a blow for Ireland in the JenningsBet Northumberland Plate at Newcastle this afternoon.

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It seems an oddity the Plate so rarely goes to an Irish-trained winner. Not since 2008 has the Pitmen’s Derby been won by the Irish and that was with Tony Martin’s Arc Bleu.

So who better than to side with than Martin to do it again? Zanndabad has always been the type to be fancied in this sort of race, but in fact has not won since moving to Ireland from France in December 2022.

However, he only just missed out in last year’s Chester Cup off his current mark of 92 and his reappearance outing at the Curragh at the beginning of this month had its merit.

He was only seventh past the post, but had travelled nicely for a long way and twice met interference inside the two-furlong marker, after which he was eased with his chance gone.