AS the dust settles on another Royal Ascot, Karl Burke and Dougie Costello will reflect on their fantastic achievement, Group 1 success with Quiet Reflection in the Commonwealth Cup.

The next target for their speed ball could well be the Darley July Cup, in which Muhaarar completed the notable double last year.

The Middleham trainer has signalled his intention to run at Newmarket on July 9 with Quiet Reflection among the 36 possibles at Tuesday’s scratching stage.

The trainer said: "We would like to run Quiet Reflection in the Darley July Cup as it is one of the world’s top Group 1 sprints and so it has to be on her agenda.

"It’s hard to know how strong the Commonwealth Cup form will prove, but it’s encouraging that last year’s winner (Muhaarar) turned out to be a superstar and Quiet Reflection could do no more than beat the horses that were put in front of her at Ascot.

"We do have to be mindful that Quiet Reflection has been on the go for a long time and she would need to be 110 per cent to run, but there is nothing else for her, over six furlongs at least, for eight weeks after the Darley July Cup, so that gives us scope to give her a bit of a break after Newmarket."

Reiterating that conditions would need to be suitable, Burke added: "It just depends how she is – we will probably leave it until the confirmation stage, five days before the race, before making a decision.

"Every time she’s run there has been some give in the ground, so her ability to handle anything quicker is an unknown. If it came up fast at Newmarket that would come into consideration."

Brian Ellison will run more than 20 horses at Newcastle's John Smith's Northumberland Plate meeting, which got underway yesterday, and rates Seamour in the big race itself as his best chance of a winner over the three days.

The son of a former shipbuilder was born on Plate day 64 years ago and has dreamt of winning the race, known locally as the Pitmen's Derby, since he was a child.

Seamour ran in the race last year and, while he was sent off the 5-1 favourite, he could only finish sixth.

However, he was drawn widest of all in stall 22 that day and, granted better fortune on that front, Ellison is confident of another bold show.

"This is the race we wanted, so we've kept him fresh," said the Malton-based handler.

"We've given him just the one run at York, where he shaped well for a long way before he blew up. This has been his target since; he's in great shape.

"It's obviously a meeting we target and we love to have winners there. I've got 10 on Thursday, only three on Friday, but could have another eight or 10 on Saturday – we'll run whatever gets in.

"The likes of Always Resolute, Soul Intent, Full Day, Apterix and Sikandar are in the Plate, but would be lucky to get in, so will go for the consolation race (Vase)."

Asked his best chance of success at the meeting, Ellison quickly replied: "Seamour".