Royal Ascot-winning pair seeking further success in Northumberland Plate

There may not be a pot of gold at the end of this year's Betfair Northumberland Plate but Rainbow Dreamer has his connections hoping to keep their recent winning run going in Saturday's Newcastle feature.

Alan King and Hollie Doyle hit the headlines at Royal Ascot last week. The trainer had three winners, with Hollie Doyle teaming up on one of them, Scarlet Dragon, to become the third female jockey to ride a winner at the meeting after Gay Kelleway and Hayley Turner.

Rainbow Dreamer, a best-priced 12-1 with Hills for Saturday's big handicap, put forward a strong case in last month's Group 3 Sagaro Stakes over the course and distance when mixing it with last week's Gold Cup runner-up Nayef Road before finishing fourth, beaten five lengths.

That was their first defeat since Doyle teamed up with the seven-year-old for three wins on the all-weather, adding to her lucrative record with the trainer for all seasons.

Rainbow Dreamer: four wins on the bounce on the all-weather during the winterCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Doyle has ridden ten winners from 52 rides for King which includes three from six this year.

"It was a hot Group 3," said Doyle on her way to Haydock on Wednesday. "It was probably a career best back from a break and he will probably come on for that and put him right for Saturday.

"He's a great ride, pretty straightforward and has taken to the all-weather well. It's a great first ride in a race which I've been aware of every year with its history."

The BHA handicapper agrees on the career best having raised Rainbow Dreamer's all-weather mark by 4lb to 107 for what was his first defeat in five runs on the all-weather to go with two wins over hurdles.

Rainbow Dreamer is seeking to give King back-to-back wins in what is dubbed the Pitmen's Derby after the success of Who Dares Wins under Doyle's boyfriend Tom Marquand last year.

Alan King, who won last year's Northumberland Plate with Who Dares Wins, looks to follow up that success with Rainbow Dreamer this yearCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The heritage handicap is worth just under £25,000 to the winner compared to over £92,000 a year ago with the cut blamed on the pandemic. That had previously claimed another target for Rainbow Dreamer, who had been all set to contest the £150,000 Marathon on All-Weather Finals Day at Lingfield on Good Friday before that event was cancelled following Britain's lockdown.

While many owners, trainers and jockeys have had their annual ambitions derailed by the pandemic, Doyle is on track to back up her record-breaking score of 116 last year.

Scarlet Dragon's win in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot was her 50th of 2020, and Doyle added: "I had plenty of winners on the all-weather before the shutdown and 100 winners is in my sights, but it's important to keep this run going and stay clear of any injuries."

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