Northgate bosses 'em in Plate

Northgate might have had it to do on figures but that didn't stop him from sluicing up in Her Majesty's Plate at Down Royal under Pat Smullen.

Joe Murphy 's charge was travelling over his four rivals from some way out and he took over from the quarter mile pole. The six-year-old was ridden clear from over a furlong out on his way to defeating End Of The Affair (on her final start) by a whopping eight and a half lengths.

Amazingly Northgate, End Of The Affair and Zaralabad went off co-favourites at 2/1 but Murphy's winner was the one punters wanted and he was backed in from an opening show of 3/1.

Without success since 2009, Northgate was second in the Ulster Derby here behind Celtic Dane last summer and he had a few other narrow defeats to his name as well.

Joe Murphy, who also owns the Mujadil gelding, said: "The key to this horse is the ground (he must have a sound surface).

"His objective now is the Group 3 Diamond Stakes at Dundalk (twice a winner there)."

"He just could make a lovely hurdler too and he has schooled brilliantly at home."