Channon scores win with Som Tala

By Cornelius Lysaght
BBC racing correspondent

Channon's horse led from start to finish to claim victory

Mick Channon's Som Tala (16-1) won Newcastle's big Flat racing prize, the John Smith's Northumberland Plate.

Ridden by Tony Culhane, the six-year-old led all the way in severely rain-softened conditions to land Europe's most valuable two-mile handicap.

He beat Wells Lyrical (15-2) by three-quarters of a length, with Friston Forest (14-1) in third place.

On Sunday, the Channon's Youmzain bids to win France's Grand Prix de Saint Cloud for the second year running.

New jockey Christophe Soumillon will be on board.

After Som Tala's victory on Saturday, Channon's representative Gill Richardson said: "He's so genuine and so tough.

"He was bucking and kicking in the parade ring, and the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting didn't take anything out of him.

"We don't get many that stay a trip like this and it is great for the owner (Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum)."