Align The Stars delivered a major Newcastle success for Charlie Johnston and Daniel Muscutt on Saturday, landing the JenningsBet Northumberland Plate over two miles and 56 yards.
The five-year-old returned at 10/1 in the historic staying handicap, travelling prominently before taking control over a furlong out and running on strongly on the Tapeta surface.
It was a sharp feature-race strike for Johnston, whose Middleham operation has long targeted major staying handicaps, and a valuable prize for owner Tony Farmer as Align The Stars collected £77,310.
Favourite Fades As Johnston Stayer Stays On
The Racing Post result showed Kirchner finishing second at 17/2 for James Owen and Cieren Fallon, a length and a quarter behind the winner, with Sir Mark Prescott’s Synergism third at 9/1.
Saint Etienne was fourth, Bahadur fifth and 3/1 favourite Ride The Thunder only sixth after weakening inside the final furlong.
Align The Stars had finished down the field at Royal Ascot earlier this month but had already advertised his stamina with a Goodwood win in May. Back on the all-weather, Muscutt kept him close enough to the pace before asking for the decisive effort, and the response was immediate.
The result gives Johnston another high-profile Saturday handicap and adds Align The Stars to the roll of honour for one of British racing’s most familiar summer prizes.
