Overturn has been handed a much kinder draw as he bids to become the first horse for 33 years to land back-to-back victories in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday.
Donald McCain’s smart dual purpose performer will be near the rail in stall two in a maximum 20-strong field compared to being on the outside in 21 last June.
Then, Eddie Ahern managed to steer the frontrunner to the far rail to make all the running.
Henry Brooke, a 5lb (2.5kg)-claiming apprentice, will be in the saddle this year to compensate for Overturn having to carry topweight of 9st 10lb (61.5kg), as opposed to 8st 7lb (54kg) 12 months ago.
Overturn, who was a late withdrawal from the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot last Saturday because of soft ground, attempts to be the first horse since Tug Of War in 1977 and 1978 to win Europe’s richest two-mile (3200m) handicap two years running.
Michael Bell took this prestigious Gosforth Park prize with Juniper Girl in 2007 and is doubly represented with pre-post favourite Activate and the Queen’s Tactician.
A notable absentee was Mount Athos, trained in Ireland by David Wachman, while Mark Johnston has taken out last week’s Royal Ascot winner Fox Hunt.
However, the Middleham trainer still has two chances in the shape of English Summer and Nave.
Sir Mark Prescott’s Tuscan Gold has been prominent in the betting market, but is only second reserve with Tim Easterby’s Crackentorp first emergency.
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