Punters plunge on Fernando

Punters have latched on to Martin Pipe’s Don Fernando as they look towards the big betting race of the weekend, the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

The four-year-old has halved in price to 8-1 today with Ladbrokes, while William Hill go 8-1 from 12s and Coral the same price but were even bigger this morning at 20s.

The champion jumps handler has won the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’ previously with Tamarpour (1991) and Far Cry (1999).

A maiden winner on the Flat when with Sean Woods, Don Fernando blossomed into a leading juvenile hurdler with Pipe and won a Grade Two event at Cheltenham in December.

He finished seventh in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting on his latest start, beaten just five lengths by stablemate Sindapour.

“With two winners in Far Cry and Tamarpour, two seconds and a third and fourth from 13 runners since 1991, Pipe’s record in this race has to be respected,” said spokesman Balthazar Fabricius.

“We thought at 12-1 and then 10-1 the money would dry up but it has kept pouring in.”

Coral’s David Stevens said: “Pipe proved at Royal Ascot last week that his Flat runners should always be respected, and punters were keen to support Don Fernando at all rates from 20-1 down to 8-1.”

Andrew Balding would like some rain for his Plate contender Distant Prospect and will leave a decision on his participation as late as possible.

“He will run, weather permitting. I imagine we will declare him and wait until the last minute because there are thunderstorms forecast for the weekend,” he said.

“We are hoping the ground will come right, we would only run him on the right ground and he is tried and tested in those sort of races – he stays all day, is in great form and probably fairly handicapped still.”

John Smith’s Northumberland Plate betting:

Ladbrokes: 6-1 Big Moment, 8-1 Don Fernando, Landing Light, 9-1 Hugs Dancer, 10-1 Bourgeois, Global Challenge, Supremacy, Unleash, 11-1 Mamcazma, 12-1 Riyadh, 14-1 Barathea Blazer, Sentinel, 16-1 Parachute, Sun Bird, Thewhirlingdervish, Zibeline, 20-1 bar.

Coral betting: 7-1 Big Moment, 8-1 Don Fernando, Landing Light, 9-1 Hugs Dancer, Bourgeois, Supremacy, 10-1 Global Challenge, 11-1 Unleash, 12-1 Sentinel, Barathea Blazer, 14-1 Riyadh, Mamcazma, 16-1 Zibeline, Thewhirlingdervish, Heir To Be, Tom Paddington, 20-1 bar.

William Hill: 11-2 Big Moment, 7-1 Landing Light, 8-1 Bourgeois, Don Fernando, 9-1 Global Challenge, Hugs Dancer, 10-1 Unleash, 11-1 Supremacy, 12-1 Mamcazma, Riyadh, 14-1 Barathea Blazer, Sentinel, 16-1 Parachute, Sun Bird, Thewhirlingdervish, Zibeline, 20-1 bar.