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16:30 Ascot

Saturday 16 October 2021

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:5016:30

Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qipco) (Str)

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 1m 42.64s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Sir Busker³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: W J Knight| OR: 111| CD

9/1

Good Ascot record, including fourth in QEII a year ago and third in Queen Anne in June. Not at best in 7f York Group 2 latest but 1m is probably more his trip these days.

Form: 437243

(6)

Oh This Is Us¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Hannon| OR: 107| CD

80/1

C&D listed winner in April and added Group 3 Diomed at Epsom in June. Not quite at the same level since, though, and even a return to his best may not be good enough to overcome this mark.

Form: 030844

(16)

Montatham⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Dane O'Neill| T: W J Haggas| OR: 107| D

100/1

Progressed into a smart performer last term. Just as good when not beaten far into sixth under a big weight in Sandown handicap in July but needs to bounce back to from a lesser run at York since.

Form: 120-365

(4)

Accidental Agent^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 107| CD

66/1

Enjoyed his finest hour when winning the Queen Anne over C&D at 2018 Royal meeting. First success since when landing 1m Newmarket in July but has been running only respectably since. Others preferred.

Form: 017266

(12)

Magical Morning²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Spencer| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 106| D

66/1

Good close second in 1m York handicap in August but he has run poorly either side, folding tamely in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket 3 weeks ago. Yard has stronger contenders elsewhere.

Form: 2-81020

(2)

Escobar^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: D O'Meara| OR: 106| CD

16/1

Winless since taking this in 2019, but he has largely been in good form this season. Latest run behind Aldaary over 7f here wasn't one of his better efforts, though.

Form: 535229

(11)

Aldaary¹⁴^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 103| C

7/2

Back on the up returned to going softer than good when seeing off a few of these rivals in 7f course handicap a fortnight ago. Respected under a 6 lb penalty.

Form: 135571

(23)

Dashing Roger⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Marco Ghiani| T: W Stone| OR: 104| CD

40/1

Better than ever with wins over 1m at Sandown and here (round course) this summer. Presumably been kept fresh for this but he'll need a big career best to add to his tally here,

Form: 704131

(19)

Raise You⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: D McMonagle⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 104| D

22/1

Landed gamble in 1m Curragh handicap on reappearance in April. Couple of creditable efforts in defeat since and this Irish raider is fresh for the time of year. Could play a part.

Form: 342-155

(7)

Nugget²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR: 104| BF| D

9/1

Newbury Spring Cup winner who should have followed up (given too much to do) in Thirsk Hunt Cup in May. Confirmed he's still firmly on the up when returning from break to win at Haydock 3 weeks ago.

Form: 21-3121

(17)

Johan⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 104| D

33/1

Smart handicapper who was back to winning ways at Salisbury (1m) in June. Good fourth in Golden Mile at Goodwood next time and type to bounce back from a lesser run in France latest.

Form: 8-58140

(14)

Matthew Flinders²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: E Walker| OR: 103| D

33/1

Winless this term but he is one who has often left the impression that he could have a good handicap in him and it's interesting that William Buick takes the ride.

Form: 370276

(5)

Rhoscolyn¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 106

40/1

Much improved for this yard, racking up a hat-trick in early-summer. Plenty of good efforts in defeat since, including a second in Golden Mile at Goodwood. Doesn't hold any secrets from handicapper.

Form: 622345

(10)

Saltonstall^p,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: C J MacRedmond⁽⁵⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 103| D

80/1

From a stable which has enjoyed a good spell this autumn and he showed he can be competitive in big-field handicaps when fourth of 27 in Irish Cambridgeshire. Wasn't at his best in listed last time.

Form: 065407

(8)

King Leonidas²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 103| D

8/1

Very promising and lightly-raced colt who made a highly encouraging return from an absence when third in strong 1¼m Newbury handicap 28 days ago. Surely more to come after only 4 starts.

Form: 1/16-3

(22)

Kenzai Warrior¹⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R A Teal| OR: 97| D

50/1

Group 3 winner at 2. Disappointed on next 5 starts but back on track after a break when leading late on 1m handicap 17 days ago. Plenty more needed under a 6 lb penalty here.

Form: 9608-P1

(1)

Marie's Diamond²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 102| D

28/1

Front runner who struck in a 1m handicap at Ayr in July. Creditable seventh of 26 in Cambridgeshire at Newmarket last time but that underlines that he's vulnerable from this mark in competitive races.

Form: 126537

(15)

Symbolize¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 102

40/1

Won a small-field Thirsk novice event in August and better than ever when second to reopposing Aldaary over 7f here a fortnight ago. Only eighth in this last year on sole previous attempt at 1m.

Form: 070172

(13)

Shelir^p⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96| D

40/1

Reacted positively to first-time cheekpieces when making all in 20-runner event at York 8 days ago. Can be competitive under a 6 lb penalty on that form but it'll tougher to dominate this field.

Form: 229291

(21)

Sunray Major¹⁵^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 95| C| D

2/1

Half-brother to top-class Kingman. Took career record to 3-4 when readily overcoming an opening mark of 95 in 7f course handicap (good to soft) 15 days ago. Fancied to make light of a 6 lb penalty.

Form: 14-11

Forecasts

Sunray Major (2/1), Aldaary (7/2), King Leonidas (8/1), Nugget (9/1), Sir Busker (9/1), Escobar (16/1), Raise You (22/1), Marie's Diamond (28/1), Matthew Flinders (33/1), Johan (33/1), Symbolize (40/1), Shelir (40/1), Rhoscolyn (40/1), Dashing Roger (40/1), Kenzai Warrior (50/1), Magical Morning (66/1), Accidental Agent (66/1), Oh This Is Us (80/1), Saltonstall (80/1), Montatham (100/1)

A very competitive handicap but it's still hard to see past SUNRAY MAJOR who was a convincing winner in a big field over 7f here on his recent handicap debut and can take the next step up the ladder now. His stablemate King Leonidas is another low-mileage sort who should have more to offer so he's feared most ahead of Nugget.