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16:25 Ascot

Saturday 21 October 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0515:4516:25

Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qipco) (Str)

Off time: 16:28 | Winning time: 1m 47.11s

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(11)

Migration¹⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: D Menuisier| OR: 113| D

14/1

Better than ever when defying top weight in the Lincoln at Doncaster (1m, heavy) on his reappearance in April. His absence since a below-par effort in a Newmarket Group 3 in May isn't too big a concern given his ability to go well fresh but some effort will be needed under clear top weight.

Form: 7/284-15

(6)

Raadobarg^b,t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Rossa Ryan| T: G Boughey| OR: 107| D

16/1

Smart and consistent performer at listed/Group level this year but yet to score for current yard and suspicion that wait for his next win will go on a bit longer.

Form: 393533

(9)

Sonny Liston^b³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: R L Moore| T: R M Beckett| OR: 106| BF

7/1

Second in the Royal Hunt Cup over C&D (good to firm) in June and even better form when narrowly denied in 1m Doncaster handicap (good to soft) last month. Raised another 4 lb for that but still respected with Ryan Moore taking the ride again.

Form: 920542

(12)

Baradar^p,t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: G Boughey| OR: 105| C

12/1

Bagged the International over 7f here (good to soft) in July and produced a really smart handicap performance when following up over 6.5f at the Doncaster St Leger meeting. Ground conditions will be in his favour but this trip is a maximum for him.

Form: 1-36011

(23)

Al Mubhir^t²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 105| D

8/1

Progressive last year and improved again to win 1m Leicester handicap in April. Remained in form since, including third in a Newbury listed last time, and his liking for testing ground earns him a place on the shortlist here.

Form: 513583

(22)

Awaal¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 104| BF| D

11/2

Smart performer who has been placed in the Lincoln (second to Migration) at Doncaster (1m, heavy) and Bunbury Cup (7f, good to soft) this year. Another creditable effort when third in 7f Redcar listed race a couple of weeks ago.

Form: 293303

(7)

Bopedro²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 102| D

10/1

Two 1m Newmarket wins this year and showed he's still at the top of his game at the end of a long season when third of 34 in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket (9f, good to firm) 3 weeks ago. Acts on heavy ground. Respected.

Form: 300193

(20)

Blue For You^t,v¹⁴

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

25/1

Resumed winning ways in good style at York (1m, good) in July. Failed to make an impact on his next 3 starts but looked right back in form when finishing well from too far back in the Challenge Cup here (7f) recently. The first-time tongue tie he had added to his visor on that occasion is retained.

Form: 010007

(2)

Docklands⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Hayley Turner| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 104| CD

7/1

Quickly developed into a smart performer, winning twice over C&D this summer, notably the Britannia at the Royal meeting. A touch disappointing in a Goodwood Group 3 last time but could resume his progression back in a big-field handicap. His first C&D win came on soft. Big player.

Form: 2-21116

(13)

Helm Rock^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 100| D

40/1

Thrived at the end of this summer, completing a 1m AW double at Newcastle and Kempton (1m). Another rise in the weights was enough to find him out back on turf last time, though. Likely vulnerable again.

Form: 467115

(14)

Coeur d'Or^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: C D Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 100| D

20/1

Has had a cracking year, including bagging valuable 1m handicaps at Galway (soft) and the Curragh (good) in August. Respectable eighth of 22 back at the Curragh (1¼m, good to soft) 41 days ago.

Form: 213118

(15)

Rhoscolyn^t¹⁴^{(ex 6)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| D

28/1

Dropped in the weights and back in excellent order during the summer, notching 3 wins on soft/heavy ground at Goodwood. Another creditable effort when fifth of 17 in the Challenge Cup here on good to firm here a fortnight ago and could better than with the ground more in his favour now.

Form: 101715

(5)

Ropey Guest^v¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson| OR: 99| D

40/1

Bagged a second success of 2023 with a career best in 19-runner handicap at York (1m, good to firm) in August. Creditable 2 lengths sixth of 17 in the Challenge Cup here (7f, good to firm) a fortnight ago. Has form in the mud.

Form: 020106

(16)

Bennetot²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: N Callan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97

50/1

Useful in France. Joined a yard which does so well with new recruits but he didn't offer immediate encouragement at Haydock (7f, heavy) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 1-74420

(4)

The Gatekeeper²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 96| BF| D

25/1

Winner of 7f handicaps at Newcastle and Newmarket earlier this season and better than ever when awarded a 1m handicap at Goodwood (soft) at the end of August. Creditable fourth of 7 to Rhoscolyn back at Goodwood last time but looks summed up by his mark.

Form: 220104

(10)

Dual Identity²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Knight| OR: 95

12/1

Back to winning ways with a wide-margin success at Sandown (1¼m, good to soft) in September but his mark took a hike for that and he faded to finish tenth of 34 in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket (9f) since.

Form: 450010

(18)

Dancing Magic^h⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R A Teal| OR: 98WS

14/1

Remains a maiden but has been highly tried (last 8 runs at listed/Group level) and the booking of Oisin Murphy takes the eye on this belated handicap debut. Has form in the mud.

Form: 4-30854

(8)

Lattam^p1⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Haggas| OR: 95| BF| D

12/1

Steadily progressive 4-y-o who landed Irish Lincolnshire on return and went in again on AW at Newcastle (1m) in June. Creditable efforts in 1m handicaps on testing ground at Goodwood and York in recent weeks. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 121035

(3)

Vetiver^h,t³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 98| D

25/1

Three wins, notably a 7f Carlisle listed event on soft ground in June. Creditable 5¾ lengths third of 10 to Matilda Picotte in Group 3 Sceptre at Doncaster (7f, good) on her only start since. While it's tough to argue her mark looks generous she is less exposed than most of these.

Form: 21-1413

(21)

Eilean Dubh^p1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 95| D

66/1

5-y-o who enjoyed a fine 2022, winning 4 times. Got his head back in front at Hamilton (8.3f) in July but the handicapper has seemingly been in control since. First-time cheekpieces need to spark improvement.

Form: 313080

Forecasts

Awaal (11/2), Docklands (7/1), Sonny Liston (7/1), Al Mubhir (8/1), Bopedro (10/1), Lattam (12/1), Dual Identity (12/1), Baradar (12/1), Dancing Magic (14/1), Migration (14/1), Raadobarg (16/1), Coeur d'Or (20/1), The Gatekeeper (25/1), Vetiver (25/1), Blue For You (25/1), Rhoscolyn (28/1), Ropey Guest (40/1), Helm Rock (40/1), Bennetot (50/1), Eilean Dubh (66/1)

DOCKLANDS gained the first of 2 C&D wins this summer on soft ground and is worth a chance to atone for his lesser run in pattern company at Glorious Goodwood as he continues to look well treated on the form of his impressive Britannia success at the Royal meeting. David O'Meara has won this 3 times since 2017 so his runners need paying close attention, with Blue For You and Bopedro possibly the pick of them. Al Mubhir and Sonny Liston also make the shortlist.