I’m looking forward to the Northumberland Plate Handicap at Newcastle as I’m a massive fan of these staying Handicaps and this year’s renewal is certainly competitive. I’m also interested to see Aloe Vera make her return in the 3.00 at Newcastle as I think she could have a very successful 2020.

English Wine Week finishes tomorrow and there is no doubt that Wines of Great Britain have done an excellent job here for all producers as there has been so much engagement here.

I have a bottle of Coates & Seely Brut Reserve NV from the hills of Hampshire chilling on ice to enjoy after racing. Hopefully, celebrating a winner or two!

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

1.50 Newcastle – Chipchase Stakes (Group 3) 6f   

With Brando disappointing once too often these days, have a look at Kevin Ryan’s other good sprinter, Major Jumbo, here. He’s got the potential plot draw in stall 12, which is going to enable him to grab the stands rail, often favoured, and with no other potential pacemaker he can set his own fractions. Could be hard to pass if so. Unibet 9/2 win

2.40 Newmarket – Criterion Stakes (Group 3) 7f

Limato is the class act but his record after a long break isn’t great, and he may need it. Yafta for the Richard Hannon team keeps threatening to win one of these and his close fifth behind Space Blues at Haydock earlier in the month looks all the better after he won easily in France On Thursday. Drawn next to likely pacemaker Vale Of Kent, should have his chance late. Unibet 9/1 each way

3.00 Newcastle – Exchange Hoppings Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) 1m 2f

Aloe Vera (nap) was pulled out at Royal Ascot because of the testing conditions on the Thursday. She hasn’t been seen for over a year, since winning a Listed contest at Goodwood on her second start, having won on debut. She looked a very exciting prospect for the Ralph Beckett team, and I have been waiting for her return to action. Unibet 9/4 win

3.35 Northumberland Plate (Handicap) 2m ½f

Cosmelli (Gay Kelleway) clearly runs well at Newcastle as he won the Plate consolation race in 2018 and no arguing his chance from a handicapping point of view, 8lb lower than when a 2½l fifth in the race last year. In good form over trips too short since return and ought to be thereabouts. Unibet 11/1 each way (Unibet are paying five places)

Anyonecanhaveitall for Mark Johnston bumped into a well-handicapped improver in the shape of Oleg at Pontefract, the winner coming from an impossible position to nail him on the post. I watched this race at the time and the first two finished four lengths clear and the form looks very solid. He has had 4 lengths win and a neck second in two runs at Newcastle so clearly handles the track. Unibet 16/1 each way (Unibet are paying five places)

7.15 Curragh – Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) 1m 4f

Fiscal Rules for Jim Bolger was a staying-on fifth in the Irish 2000 but this step up in trip is going to make a difference – his half-sister Cimeara needs 1 mile four furlongs as a minimum, and the dam was a 12f horse. The fact he was thrown into the 2000 after just one run in a maiden shows trainer clearly thinks plenty of him. Expect a big step forward here. Unibet 13/2 each way

We need a summer, not just because you are all hoping to give the barbecue more of an airing this year than last and enjoy some super al fresco eating and drinking, but also because our English and Welsh winemakers need periods of continuous, consistent sunshine over the next few months. They need to ensure that 2013 is a harvest to remember, unlike 2012 which was dominated by wet and cool weather as we all know, resulting in producers making a lot less wine, although the quality was good. Perhaps surprising for you is the fact that, if everything goes to plan, in England and Wales this year around 7.5 million bottles of wine will be produced, up from 3 million bottles from the 2011 vintage!

English and Welsh wines are rightly winning lots of accolades because we are making some of the best sparkling wines in the world here. Try these from producers like Nyetimber, Camel Valley, and Gusbourne Estate and, locally, Three Choirs in Newent. If you are looking for an easy drinking white then try Three Choirs Coleridge Hill or Willow Brook, both at around 11% abv. Alternatively, have a taste of the excellent Bacchus – the best white variety for quality still whites in England – from Brightwell Vineyard (pictured left) in Wallingford (to be featured at my Wine Talk & Tasting Evening at The Chipping Norton Theatre on Friday 17th May) or Bothy Vineyard.  Whilst the majority of production in England and Wales is of sparkling and white wines, there are good pink fizzes and still rosés too, with a few reds produced by specialists like Strawberry Hill Vineyards in Newent who make Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Other local producers  worth a mention are Poulton Hill Estate in Cirencester and  Bridewell wine available from in Wilcote near Chipping Norton.

So if you haven’t tasted an English wine yet or visited an English vineyard, then you definitely should, and your best opportunity is coming up during English Wine Week which runs from Saturday May 25^th until Sunday 2^nd June. There will be lots of activities and promotions taking place and you will get to taste some excellent wines. More details are available from English Wine Producers or UKvine.