As betting opened on Saturday's Northumberland Plate, the £100,000-added Newcastle feature, it was clear that the layers regard Royal Ascot winner Maridpour as a serious rival to James Fanshawe's Arctic Owl.

Arctic Owl has been spoken of as virtually past the post already after he romped to a 14-length victory at York 10 days ago.

A penalty for Arctic Owl's York win takes the weight to be carried by Walter Swinburn's mount up to 9 st 3 lb.

Coral: 3-1 Maridpour, 10-3 Arctic Owl, 8-1 Mawared, 9-1 Mithak, 12-1 Cyrian, Rainbow Frontier, 14-1 Dovedon Star, 16-1 Shaft Of Light, Jaseur, 20-1 bar.

Ladbrokes: 7-2 Arctic Owl, Maridpour, 8-1 Mithak, Mawared, Rainbow Frontier, 14-1 Cyrian, Dovedon Star, Jaseur, 16-1 Leonato, Shaft of Light, Windsor Castle, 20-1 bar.