Options open for Plate hero

Tony Martin has reported his Northumberland Plate winner Arc Bleu to have come out of the race in tip-top condition.

The seven-year-old was only originally declared as a reserve for the two-mile handicap but the defection of others from the original list of 20 enabled him to take his chance.

Arc Bleu was partnered by Adrian Nicholls, whose original mount Lost Soldier Three was one of the non-runners.

“He’s come out of the race well, as far as I know, he’s still in Newcastle,” said Martin.

“He’ll be coming home later today. I’ve got a man with him who says he is very happy with him. Hopefully we’ll keep mixing hurdling with the flat. We’ll have a look and see what is about for him.

“We’ll just see how he gets home and how he is and see where we go in a few weeks. He’s a very versatile horse. He’s won on soft ground and he goes on fast ground. Adrian gave him a great ride and everything worked out right.

“He would have been a very unlucky loser because he was the one that got boxed in and banged around more than anything else but he was good enough to get up and win.”