Richard Hannon's Churlish Charm heads the weights on 10st 2lb for Saturday's Foster's Lager Northumberland Plate, for which 25 entries were confirmed today.
Middleham handler Mark Johnston could be double-handed in the two-mile contest, which carries a guaranteed prize fund of #130,000, with Spirit Of Love (9st 8lb) and Virgin Soldier (7st 12lb).
The former finished third in last week's Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot while Martin Pipe's Heros Fatal (7st 10lb), third in the Ascot Stakes, is sure to be prominent in the betting off his featherweight if making a quick reappearance.
Karl Burke's Alhawa (7st 11lb) failed to finish in that race, having been brought down just before the turn for home in the four-horse pile-up that marred the event.
However, Burke has reported that the horse will be ready to race again before his unfortunate pilot Kieren Fallon.
'He had a few knocks after the race but he's improved a lot over the weekend and it's looking increasingly likely that he'll run,' the trainer revealed.
'In my eyes he was going quite nicely when he came down and this trip should be no problem. He was a staying-on seventh in the Cesarewitch for Nick Littmoden when, if anything, the ground was a bit dead for him.
'I booked Jamie Mackay a couple of weeks ago because the horse has such a light weight and he is a good young jockey.' -PA
