Donald McCain worried by Overturn's heavy load

Donald McCain is concerned almost as much about the weight Overturn has to carry as he is about the ground for the John Smith's Northumberland Plate at Newcastle this afternoon.

Overturn bids to become the first horse since Tug Of War in 1978 to record back-to-back wins in Europe's richest two-mile handicap. But the seven-year-old returns to Gosforth Park mainly because soft ground prevented him from running in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot last Saturday.

McCain is keen to run Overturn and reports him to be in top form, but he is rated 13lb higher than 12 months ago and has been given 17lb more to carry though that will be negated by 5lb with claimer Henry Brooke in the saddle. "It was good to soft, soft in places on Friday morning but it's looking to dry up a touch and hopefully we'll be fine," said McCain. "The horse is grand and well. We were set to go last week to Ascot before the ground went too soft.

"This was always going to be the back-up plan, but it will be harder than last year due to the higher weight he is carrying. If he gets his chance to run his race then he's a very tough horse to pass, but somewhere along the line weight is going to stop him."

John Gosden has not won the Northumberland Plate in nearly 20 years but he looks to have an excellent chance of ending that barren spell with Investissement.

Admittedly the two-mile heat is probably not one of the Newmarket trainer's key targets at the start of the year, but it is still something of a surprise that he has not tasted glory since Witness Box in 1992. New recruit Investissement looks to be a live contender this time, however, after scoring at the first time of asking for Gosden.

Genki did not get the best of runs in the Golden Jubilee at Ascot last week but compensation awaits in the totesport.com Chipchase Stakes.

Roger Charlton's charge was far from disgraced in finishing a four-length eighth behind Society Rock and can repay those who keep the faith.

Libranno can be the star turn at Newmarket in the John Sunley Memorial Criterion Stakes despite being Richard Hannon's second-string judged on jockey bookings.

Richard Hughes has opted to ride Pausanias in preference to this one but Libranno was a top-notch performer last year, winning twice at Group 2 level. He has yet to hit those heights this term but lost little in defeat when second to Classic-placed Native Khan on his return and while his two latest runs have not yielded a win, they still represent some good form. This seven-furlong trip could be ideal for the Librettist colt.

Cavalryman evidently is not the horse he once was but a step down to Listed company in the Try timeform.betfair.com On Your Smartphone Fred Archer Stakes could provide a confidence-boosting win.

A Group 1 winner in France back in 2009, he has not won since September that year and has been very highly tried in the interim.

Godolphin have continued to campaign him against some of the best but the decision to take a dip in class here looks the right one.

Siren's Song brings Classic form to the table in the 150,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Cup and she is an interesting challenger for Jessica Harrington.

The Azamour filly did not make her racecourse bow until March this year and after winning a Navan Listed heat on her second, Siren's Song was given a try in the Oaks.

It all looked to be too big an ask for the inexperienced runner come the day but her seventh place was respectable enough and could have primed her for a big pay day of her own here.

Sir Michael Stoute is enduring a quiet spell at present but an across-the-card double at Windsor and Chester should raise the yard's spirits.

Dux Scholar can make a successful belated reappearance in the Listed Bet On Irish Derby At totesport.com Stakes at Windsor while his Chilled can also strike for the stable in Chester's Trafford Centre Gift Card Handicap.

Moonsail, a daughter of Oaks winner Kazzia, will appreciate the step up to ten furlongs in the Sovereign Health Care Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Doncaster.

Deck Walk is the choice in the Poppy Shop - poppyshop.org.uk Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Lingfield.

CARLTON House is reported to be at the top of his game ahead of his bid for Classic glory in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh tomorrow.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt has been the subject of much media frenzy this year, owing to the fact he is owned by the Queen, making him second only to Frankel as the most talked-about horse of the summer. The furore was only heightened by a superb display in the Dante Stakes at York on his seasonal return and he headed to the Epsom Derby as a hot favourite to give Her Majesty a first victory in the world's most famous Flat race.

The warning signs were out for his supporters when he suffered a setback in the week leading up to the race and the disappointment of defeat was soon to follow. But he was far from disgraced in finishing third, beaten just a length by French ace Pour Moi, coming from some way back and losing a shoe inside the final furlong.

A trouble-free run since has prompted connections to let the son of Street Cry take his chance in the Irish equivalent, and Her Majesty's racing manager, John Warren, is excited about seeing him in action again.

"It's all very exciting and we're thrilled that the horse has come out of Epsom extremely well," said Warren. "I'm thrilled for the Queen as that has given her something to very much look forward to this weekend."

The reopposing Treasure Beach was narrowly ahead of Carlton House at Epsom, while Memphis Tennessee, Native Khan and Seville were all behind and are in attendance again.

Even after Epsom, many critics still doubt Carlton House's ability to stay a truly-run mile and a half, but Warren is not concerned. He said: "I don't think we're querying whether he really stays a mile and a half because he stayed on to run as well as he did at Epsom."

With more rain possibly on the way in Ireland, the ground is likely to be slower than it was at Epsom, but Warren is confident in their colt's chances. "Ryan [Moore] has always said that the horse likes quick ground, but he did win on soft ground as a two-year-old," Warren added. "I think it's the first Royal runner in the Irish Derby and it would be a great achievement for the Queen to have a Derby winner."