Forest fires Godolphin bid

Godolphin’s Friston Forest heads a maximum field of 20 runners in the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday.

The five-year-old was last seen finishing just a short-head behind Caracciola in a Listed event at York, form which was given a big boost at Royal Ascot last week when the winner took the Queen Alexandra Stakes.

Michael Bell’s The Betchworth Kid is next in line and will be ridden by promising apprentice Jamie Kyne, while Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Ascot Stakes hero Judgethemoment is turned out quickly under a penalty.

Other interesting contenders include the Henry Cecil-trained Ajaan, Michael Stoute’s Meethaaq and Walter Swinburn’s hat-trick seeking Hendersyde.

Jessica Harrington’s Speed Ticket is the sole challenger from Ireland after last year’s winner Arc Bleu was a notable absentee.

There are two reserves for the stamina sapping two-mile heat in Inchnadamph and Gordonsville.