VIRGIN Soldier may have lost last year's fight over the Northumberland Plate but he can win the war when hostilities commence for the £120,000 Foster's Lager-sponsored Showcase Handicap at Newcastle tomorrow.

Mark Johnston's battle-hardened stayer was sent off the 9-2 favourite for glory in the extended two-mile event 12 months ago, but he went over the top far too soon.

Kicked into the lead by Royston Ffrench half-a-mile from home, he was headed with two furlongs to go and trailed in eighth behind Bay of Islands.

Ridden with more restraint this time, he is certain to last home as he had won his previous race before the Plate over that course and distance when giving 11lb and a half-length beating to Freetown in a 14-runner handicap.

And he was an excellent third to Give The Slip and Boreas in the Tote-Ebor at York last August, putting in his best work at the finish of that valuable mile and three-quarters handicap.

His form this season has been in-and-out so far but he is already a winner in 2001, catching Boulevard in the dying strides to score by a neck at Kempton in May.

Volata's victory over Palanzo and Orientor in a 17-runner Listed Rated Stakes looks rock solid as both placed horses have gone on to win valuable handicaps.

Now it is the turn of the winner, trained by Mark Tompkins to frank the form when he reappears in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Chipchase Stakes.