Horse racing fans could see a Willie Mullins Northumberland Plate runners at Newcastle this Saturday as the top Irish trainer, who fired in two Royal Ascot winners last week, has ONE remaining entry for the £81,000 race.
Royal Ascot Winning Trainer Willie Mullins Looking For More UK Flat Success In Northumberland Plate
Having sent out two Royal Ascot winners last week, it looks like Willie Mullins will be back in the UK this weekend – with one horse entered in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.
Mullins is more famed for sending runners to the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, but on Saturday the Closutton trainer is eyeing the lucrative Gosforth Park flat race, which is run on their All Weather track these days.
The Northumberland’s Plate is often still referred to as ‘The Pitmen’s Derby’ – as the race used to be staged on a Wednesday, which was a holiday for the local mine workers.
But the contest was moved to a Saturday in 1952, after the Wednesday holiday was scrapped in 1949.
The race, which is run over two miles and is one of the most valuable longer distance handicaps in the world, was also switched from the turf course at Newcastle to their AW track in 2016 – where it remains today.
And this year it’s clear Willie Mullins is looking to ‘mine’ the £81k Pitman’s Derby’ first prize with one leading entry and top jockey Jamie Spencer booked to ride.
Willie Mullins Northumberland Plate Runners Down To ONE
Despite having seven entered for the big Newcastle race earlier in the week.
After the FINAL declaration stage the Willie Mullins Northumberland Plate runners are now down to just one – PAPPANO.
Saturday’s field will be capped at 20 runners and be shown live on ITV Racing.
The sole remaining Mullins Northumberland Plate runner is owned by the H O S Syndicate, who were also responsible for last week’s Duke Of Edinburgh Royal Ascot winner Ethical Diamond.
Papano was last seen being pulled up in the 2025 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival behind another Mullins runner Poniros.
But is two from three on the AW on the flat when trained by John and Thady Gosden, so a return to the sand surfaces looks a big plus. His two AW wins came at Southwell and Wolverhampton.
The horse was also 8th to Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Illinois in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot in 2024.
You can see if the Mullins runner fits the Northumberland Plate trends here.
Northumberland Plate Latest Betting Odds 2025
- Who’s Glen 11/2
- East India Dock 13/2
- Pappano 13/2
- Golden Rules 9/1
- Onesmoothoperator 10/1
- Tribal Star 10/1
- Duke Of Oxford 10/1
- Zanndabad 12/1
- Dancing In Paris 14/1
- Manxman 20/1
- 22/1 bar
Note: Odds are subject to change and others on request.
When Is The 2025 Northumberland Plate?
📅Date: Saturday 28th June 2025
⌚Time: 3:15pm
🏇Racecourse: Newcastle (AW)
💷Winner: £81,000
📺 TV: ITV/Sky
Onesmoothoperator Bidding To Become First Back-to-Back Northumberland Plate Winner Since 1978
We are likely to also see last year’s Northumberland Plate winner Onesmoothoperator in the race again as this Brian Ellison-trained 7 year-old looks to become the first ‘back-to-back’ winner since Tug Of War in 1977/78.
He was also 14th in the 2022 running of the race and has an overall AW Newcastle record that reads well – 1-3-2-2-2-2-3-14-2-1-3-6-4-8-1.
Meaning he’s only been out of the top four at the track three times from 15 tries.
Onesmoothoperator has since won the lucrative Geelong Cup in Australia and then ran 12th in the Melbourne Cup last November.
However, if he is to win the Northumberland Plate for a second time, he’ll have to do it rated 12lbs higher than 2024.
