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16:40 Ascot

Saturday 15 October 2022

All13:2514:0014:4015:2016:0016:40

Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qipco) (Str)

Off time: 16:42 | Winning time: 1m 44.69s

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(16)

Escobar^t¹⁴^{(ex 6)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: A Kirby| T: D O'Meara| OR: 107| CD

12/1

Winner of this in 2019 and better than ever at the age of 8 when bagging the Challenge Cup over 7f here (good to soft) a fortnight ago, beating the reopposing Mums Tipple by 1½ lengths with a bit in hand. 6 lb penalty means he's clear top weight.

Form: 923381

(23)

Migration¹⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: W Buick| T: D Menuisier| OR: 109| D

15/2

Won big-field 1¼m handicaps at Glorious Goodwood and York's Ebor meeting last season. Showed he's just as effective over this trip when narrowly denied in Newbury Spring Cup on reappearance in April. Off since but clearly capable when fresh.

Form: 5/4117-2

(18)

Accidental Agent^b¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 108| CD

33/1

Queen Anne winner in his prime and has shown he's still capable of really smart form in handicaps this season. Only midfield in valuable 7f handicaps here this autumn, though, and suspicion he'll find a few too strong again.

Form: 277709

(10)

Tyrrhenian Sea³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 105| BF| D

10/1

Rapidly made up into a smart performer on AW during the winter and proved his effectiveness on turf when third of 18 in handicap at York (1m) in August. Not quite in same form encountering a soft surface for first time when fifth of 16 at Doncaster since. Yard going very well.

Form: 142435

(3)

Johan³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: David Egan| T: M R Channon| OR: 105| D

28/1

Smart handicapper who was clearly perked up by a yard switch when winning the Lincoln on his reappearance in March. Just second outing since then when midfield in handicap at the St Leger meeting last month. Remains 3 lb above his Lincoln mark.

Form: 400-168

(21)

Magical Morning^p1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Benoit D L Sayette⁽³⁾| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 105| D

33/1

Smart performer who was better than ever when winning a 1m Doncaster handicap at the beginning of June. Subsequent efforts not so good, including when down the field in the Cambridgeshire 3 weeks ago. First-time cheekpieces need to spark improvement.

Form: 3-01050

(19)

Bashkirova⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 104| D

9/2

Came a long way in a short space of time at 3 yrs, winning her first 3 starts, and resumed progress when comfortably landing a Group 3 at the Epsom Derby meeting. Possibly unsuited by quicker ground when below par at pattern level twice since. Interesting switching back to a handicap.

Form: 17-2156

(6)

Stormy Antarctic^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: R Kingscote| T: E Walker| OR: 103| D

28/1

Multiple pattern-race winner over the years. Couple of listed thirds this summer show he's still capable of very useful form but more will be needed on this belated handicap debut.

Form: 926-353

(4)

Montatham³⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 102| D

18/1

Progressed into a smart performer in 2020 but failed to hit the same heights last year. Absent since finishing down the field in this 12 months ago but he has been given a chance by the handicapper.

Form: 20/3650-

(11)

Shelir¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 102| D

80/1

Career best effort (smart form) when winning 8-runner handicap at Ripon (1m, good to firm) in August but he was well behind a few of these in the Challenge Cup a fortnight ago. Stable has stronger claims elsewhere.

Form: 560160

(7)

Rhoscolyn^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: D O'Meara| OR: 102

16/1

Has gone 18 runs without a win but that doesn't really do him justice as he's posted several good efforts along the way, including third in Buckingham Palace over 7f here at the Royal meeting. Didn't enjoy rub of the green in Challenge Cup back here latest and treated as if still in form.

Form: 078350

(20)

Sweet Believer³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: A J Farragher⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Haggas| OR: 102| D

8/1

Successful three times last season and ran well on return from 11-month break when second of 5 to Bayside Boy in listed race at Sandown (1m, heavy) a month ago. Not obviously well treated back in a handicap but Adam Farragher takes a handy 5 lb off.

Form: 12138-2

(17)

Blue For You^v¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 102| D

7/1

Useful ex-Irish 1m winner who has been in a good vein of form for this yard since fitted with a visor, deservedly getting his head back in front in a valuable 1m handicap at the York Ebor meeting. Better than he could show in the Challenge Cup here latest and big player back at 1m.

Form: 322217

(8)

Symbolize^p1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 102

20/1

Second to Aldaary in the Challenge Cup and this race last autumn. A couple of this season's efforts suggest he's still as good as ever and he ended up on the wrong part of the track when well beaten in this year's Challenge Cup (worth forgiving that). Cheekpieces go on. Could go well.

Form: 2-20260

(22)

Astro King^v1⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 101| D

18/1

Very consistent in top-end handicaps without winning one, finishing fourth of 29 in Royal Hunt Cup over C&D in June. Below form in listed company latest but better can be expected here. Wears first-time visor.

Form: 030-946

(2)

Tacarib Bay^b1²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 104

16/1

Back in a handicap and doubled career tally in 12-runner contest at Haydock (7f) in July. Creditable efforts on his next 3 starts but his run of good form came to a halt at Newbury last time. First-time blinkers replace the cheekpieces worn lately.

Form: 012525

(5)

Casanova¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Adam Caffrey⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 100| D

40/1

Useful gelding. Plenty of creditable efforts this season without winning. Beaten a good way at Group 3 level last time but this Irish raider has more chance back in a handicap.

Form: 276034

(13)

Safe Voyage¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Hollie Doyle| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 100| D

28/1

Veteran who was second in a big-field event at Leopardstown last month and he did too much too soon in the Challenge Cup here last time (probably still in form).

Form: 508620

(1)

Perotto²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Davies⁽³⁾| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 100| CD

22/1

Proved that he can handle big-field scenarios when landing the 29-runner Britannia over C&D last summer. Some fair efforts in defeat this term but he underperformed in the Cambridgeshire last month. Others are more obvious.

Form: 036340

(14)

Orbaan^t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: N Callan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| BF| C| D

11/1

Rediscovered the winning habit with a bang this summer, taking Golden Mile at Glorious Goodwood and following up in 7f classified event here. Went agonisingly close to landing another big pot at Goodwood (7f) last time. Likely to be thereabouts.

Form: 281142

Forecasts

Bashkirova (9/2), Blue For You (7/1), Migration (15/2), Sweet Believer (8/1), Tyrrhenian Sea (10/1), Orbaan (11/1), Escobar (12/1), Tacarib Bay (16/1), Rhoscolyn (16/1), Montatham (18/1), Astro King (18/1), Symbolize (20/1), Perotto (22/1), Safe Voyage (28/1), Johan (28/1), Stormy Antarctic (28/1), Accidental Agent (33/1), Magical Morning (33/1), Casanova (40/1), Shelir (80/1)

David O'Meara can cap an outstanding season of big handicap successes by taking this valuable prize with BLUE FOR YOU who wasn't seen to best effect in the Challenge Cup here last time and can show he's still on a favourable mark returned to 1m and with Danny Tudhope back in the saddle. Migration's absence since his Spring Cup second isn't a massive concern given his good record fresh and he heads the dangers along with the selection's stablemate Orbaan and last year's runner-up Symbolize.