Northgate romps to impressive success in Plate

NORTHGATE, ridden by champion jockey Pat Smullen, romped to an impressive victory in Her Majesty’s Plate, feature of yesterday’s action at Down Royal.

A welcome winner for trainer Joe Murphy (his last winner was Rock On Ciara at Killarney in mid-July) the six-year-old, sent off 2/1 co-favourite, stretched clear in the closing stages to slam End Of The Affair (having her final outing) by eight and a half lengths.

’He must have a sound surface, that’s the key to him,” admitted the winning trainer. “That’s why he likes Dundalk and he’ll be going back there at the end of the month for the Group 3 Diamond Stakes.