Sweet sixteen for Northumberland Plate A field of 16 will go to post for the Stg#140,000-added Foster`s Lager Northumberland Plate at Newcastle tomorrow.Last year`s winner Archduke Ferdinand, trained by Paul Cole, will head the weights on 9st 10lb, following a 3lb rise as a result of the defections of Murghem and Sarangani.He is one of two representatives for the Whatcombe handler, who also fields Queen`s Vase runner-up Mr Dinos, who has been vying for favouritism in recent days.As expected Polar Red is also an absentee, meaning champion jumps trainer Martin Pipe will rely on Ascot Stakes winner Riyadh as he bids to follow up victories in this event with Tamarpour in 1991 and Far Cry in 1999.John Dunlop had hoped to be triple handed in one of the few big races to elude the Arundel trainer in his long career.But both Taffrail and Harlestone Grey, each prominent in the betting on the two-mile contest, have been taken out of the Gosforth Park event.Dunlop`s hopes now rest with Chester Cup hero Fantasy Hill, who will be bidding to better his fourth of two years ago.'Unfortunately Mr Dunlop was not happy with either Harlestone Grey or Taffrail this morning hence they are both non-runners,' explained Dunlop`s racing secretary Marcus Hosgood, who described Fantasy Hill as 'in good shape'.
