More Plate News

Wells Lyrical is unlikely to try to go one better in Saturday's John Smith's Northumberland Plate at Newcastle unless the heavens open.

Trainer Bryan Smart has warned he will not risk last year's runner-up on fast ground in the two-mile handicap.

"He won't run unless the rain comes. There's none forecast, which is a pain, but never mind. There's a lot of us hoping for some rain," said the North Yorkshire handler.

"He wants some juice and if he gets it, he'll run very well even though he hasn't run for a long time. He's had a couple of racecourse gallops.

"He's in great form with himself, but unfortunately we won't be going anywhere unless it rains."

Charlie Swan plans to be double-handed with Rajik, eighth in the Ascot Stakes last week, and Zaralabad, third in the 2009 Irish Cesarewitch.

The County Tipperary trainer said: "Hopefully the two of them will run. Rajik has come out of Royal Ascot well. We probably dropped him in a bit too far, which was my fault.

"Zaralabad is in good form. He was third in the Irish Cesarewitch last year and has taken a while to come to himself, but he seems in good order now.

"I'm not sure who will ride them yet. I've got to wait and see whether the top-weights run or not. It depends a bit on if the weights go up."