Som Tala makes all in Northumberland Plate

Report: Newcastle, Saturday

John Smith's Northumberland Plate (Heritage Handicap) 2m, 3yo+

TONY CULHANE was rewarded for using his initiative when making all aboard Som Tala to win a steadily run Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday.

Overnight rain had turned the ground soft from good to firm but the jockeys seemed to go to extreme lengths to conserve their runners' stamina with many of the horses pulling behind the sedate gallop set by Som Tala and Keenes Day.

Culhane, who admitted after the race that it had not been the plan to make the running, kicked the 2008 Chester Cup runner-up into a clear lead rounding the home turn with three furlongs to run and went clear.

Many of the stayers failed to pick up with only Friston Forest and then Wells Lyrical throwing down a serious challenge, the latter forcing Som Tala to really stick his head down and battle.

Som Tala had three quarters of a length to spare from Wells Lyrical at the line to win at 16-1 for trainer Mick Channon and owner Ahmed Al Maktoum.

Wells Lyrical, who held an Ascot Gold Cup entry at one point, was second at 15-2 in front of top weight Friston Forest at 14-1 and Hendersyde was fourth at 14-1.

Culhane said: "It wasn't the plan to make it (the running) but the draw is so important in this race.

"The one thing myself and Mick discussed this morning was to hold the draw and to do the right thing at the right time.

"I found myself there (at the front) and I just thought I'd stay where I was.

"He's a good old horse. He kept finding more and when I let him out I thought it would take a good one to get him. I'm going to enjoy it."

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