Racing: A massive ante-post gamble should be landed at a packed Newcastle today as favourite-backers roar on Far Pavilions in the John Smith's Northumberland Plate.

The Alan Swinbank-trained six-year-old has been punted off the boards throughout the week in the build-up to the "Pitmen's Derby".

And it is easy to see why, as he has few miles on the clock for a horse of his age and is on a four-timer after landing a hat-trick in good style at Musselburgh in a competitive handicap last time out.

Owner David Abell was keen to head to Royal Ascot at York in the immediate aftermath, but Swinbank has got his way in saving him for this £180,000 contest.

That looks a shrewd move, although there is one possible stumbling block - rain.

Far Pavilions excels on fast ground and should there be a deluge at Gosforth Park, it is worth a saver on Aidan O'Brien's Coconut Beach.

The lightly-raced son of Sadler's Wells finished a running-on fifth in the Chester Cup after not getting the smoothest of passages, and did little wrong when third in the Ascot Stakes last time out, when he again met with some interference.

Quality sprinters go to post for the six-furlong John Smith's 'Extra Cold' Chipchase Stakes, in which Soldier's Tale makes plenty of appeal.

Jeremy Noseda's lightly-raced son of Stravinsky had been primed for a tilt at the Wokingham last Saturday, but connections decided against it at the 11th hour due to concerns about the extremely fast ground.

The Newmarket-based trainer is very keen to make up for that disappointment.

With a Group One entry in the July Cup confirming the regard in which he is held, there is every chance he will successfully bridge the gap to Pattern company.

Luca Cumani should hit the mark with Le Vie Dei Colori in the Haven And British Holidays Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.

The ex-Italian five-year-old has plenty of high-class form to his name and was seventh to Rakti at his brilliant best in the Group One Lockinge Stakes last time out.

Third to Soviet Song in the Sussex Stakes last season, Le Vie Dei Colori would not mind a drop of rain and should take this before having his sights raised once more.

Fran Berry, who rides Shalapour, in tomorrow's Budweiser Irish Derby picked up a nine-day ban at the Curragh last night for careless riding in the concluding race.

Berry picked up the suspension on his mount Akram after a manoevre on the downhill run to the straight resulted in Pat Smullen taking a fall.

Akram eventually finished second to the winner Portsmouth but was later disqualified and placed third for a separate incident.