Higher Power kept trainer James Fanshawe and jockey Tom Queally in the headlines when winning the Stobart Rail Northumberland Plate Handicap at Newcastle.

Just a week on from Group One glory at Royal Ascot with The Tin Man, Higher Power may have been winning a handicap but there was nearly £100,000 on offer for the winner.

Newmarket handler Fanshawe had three of the 20 runners and it is fair to say they were all trained to the minute as Lord George was fourth and Sam Missile dead-heated for sixth.

Higher Power was always handy, but so were his nearest market rivals, Flymetothestars and Natural Scenery, and while the latter briefly hit the front, Queally had the run of the rail to help and won by half a length with a neck back to the 11-4 favourite, Flymetothestars.

For Queally, who has drifted out of the limelight since Frankel's retirement, it was a first win in the race while Fanshawe had previously been successful with Bold Gait in 1995.

"It's brilliant. It's fantastic. My sister owns and bred him, so it's great for all the family," said Fanshawe.

"He's a classy horse and he stays well. To win this race you have to have a bit of class.

"We were thinking about the Gold Cup but the ground at Ascot was too firm, so we came here as it's a nice prize to win.

"We'll go for black type races now. He's in the Goodwood Cup but it might just come a bit quick."

Queally said: "Moments like this are important. It's a handicap that I've not had on my CV, so it's nice from my point of view.

"Just to be hitting these Saturday winners, it makes people take notice, and I hope James and I can reap the rewards."

Josephine Gordon rode Natural Scenery and while she just missed out on one notable win, she had earlier registered her first Group race success on Koropick (8-1) in the Betfred TV Chipchase Stakes.

Paul Hanagan could consider himself unlucky on third home Kimberella as the gap closed on the rail when he was travelling smoothly, but Koropick, the only three-year-old in the race, picked up smartly.

Hugo Palmer's charge stormed home to pip David O'Meara's Intisaab.

"That was the aim this year - to get Group rides and hopefully get a Group win," said Gordon.

"This year was going to be a big year and so far it's going really well. I'm over the moon."

Palmer said: "He has had a troubled season, through no fault of his own. He ripped a shoe off at Newbury and didn't handle the track at Epsom.

"I think the stiff six furlongs at Newcastle on a consistent surface suited him well."

Gordon later doubled up on on James Bethell's Airton (5-1) in the mile-and-a-half handicap.

Unabated followed up his course-and-distance win in March in the opening race

Sent off at 13-2, Marco Botti's three-year-old was taking on his elders for the first time but always looked to be travelling smoothly for Daniel Muscutt.

"I don't think all-weather is the key to him as he had good form on the grass at two, but he wouldn't want it too quick," said Muscutt.

"I think he's got a really big future and next year he could be top class over six furlongs."

London Prize (7-4 favourite) is a stayer on the up and he ground out victory in the valuable Betfred Northumberland Vase Handicap.

Run as the consolation race for horses who missed the cut for the Plate, there was £70,000 up for grabs but only 12 went to post.

Always handy under Fran Berry as the pace was only steady, the dual-purpose performer, who had won the Imperial Cup at Sandown, was sent for home some way out.

"They went no pace so I didn't want to sit too far back as I knew it would turn into a sprint," said Berry.

"I always felt like I was holding them and in the last 50 yards he was pulling away again.

"He's an improving horse and is a really strong stayer."