Horse Racing
Season
Balmoral Handicap Stakes – Form Comments
1600m – Turf
| 1 | Flaming Spear | Yet to win in five starts at Ascot though not beaten far over this straight 1600m when 5th of 30 back in June. He came from way back to win a 1400m Goodwood handicap subsequently whilst an inexperienced rider didn’t appear to get the best out of him here last time. |
| 2 | Hathal | Ran in the G1 over this distance on this day two years ago, not disgraced but never seriously involved. Has had some lengthy breaks since but made a good start for this stable when a closing 2nd in a 1600m Listed race at Sandown last month. |
| 3 | Mjjack | From a stable enjoying a fantastic season Mjjack has contributed with two wins at Newmarket and Haydock – both on slow ground. However only one of his 16 starts has been over as far as this, and he does have stamina to prove. |
| 4 | Circus Couture | A multiple G3 winner when Italian trained, though the competition is less strong in that country. No wins yet in the UK but has run well at this trip on several occasions including when 3rd of 30 in a Royal Ascot handicap over this straight 1600m back in June. |
| 5 | Sharja Bridge | His only win from eight starts has come in maiden company but he has since run some good races in hot handicap company. Well backed for a prestigious 1800m Newmarket handicap last time but faded towards the end. Not a bad effort though. |
| 6 | Mitchum Swagger | Has only raced twice for a different stable, running a good 3rd in a prestigious Doncaster handicap back in March but proving a disappointing favourite when reappearing at Haydock last month. Best on soft ground. |
| 7 | Safe Voyage | Has improved dramatically this season, winning both starts – first by 6L at Haydock and then winning a valuable handicap at Galway. They were both at 1400m, but the way he has finished in both starts suggest that this longer trip will be very suitable, as is slow ground. |
| 8 | Aquarium | Effective over further than this – as he showed when winning on soft ground at York last Saturday – but with a ferocious pace expected here his stamina should be an advantage. In that 14-runner York handicap he was always travelling well and then held off a fast finisher. |
| 9 | Escobar | Very effective at this distance though his three career wins have all come on a fast surface. He did run well on a slow surface when a strong-finishing 3rd at Haydock two back, but his record at Ascot is not good and he again disappointed here earlier this month. |
| 10 | South Seas | Ran an excellent second over this distance at Goodwood last month, especially as he was conceding the winner a lot of weight. A G3 winner on slow ground as a two-year-old, he certainly looks like shortlist material in this highly-competitive handicap. |
| 11 | Raising Sand | From a stable in hot form and he has contributed with a victory (despite hanging sharply left late on) in a valuable Ascot handicap (his third Ascot victory) over 1400m earlier this month. He handles this longer distance, likes slow ground and still looks fairly handicapped. |
| 12 | Via Via | Ryan Moore’s ride and he has a high strike-rate when teaming up with this trainer. After some less good runs, Via Via bounced back to form (in first-time blinkers) when 2nd to a subsequent winner two starts back and then ran a cracking 3rd of 33 in a prestigious Newmarket handicap. |
| 13 | Tricorn | From Britain’s top stable but Argentello seems their number one here. Tricorn’s winning turf form has come on a fast surface but he has run well on slow conditions and also finished 3rd of 29 on the straight course over this distance here in 2017. |
| 14 | Another Batt | Having his first start since July. He generally races prominently but he doesn’t appear particularly well handicapped and it would come as a big surprise if he won. |
| 15 | Argentello | Has won four of his eight starts, all those wins coming at this distance and all indicating that he is still progressing. In a Kempton handicap on the all-weather earlier this week – and from a difficult gate – his finishing kick against decent rivals was decisive. |
| 16 | Waarif | From the stable that won this race last year and a claiming rider is being used on this versatile and busy gelding who seems to handle all ground conditions. From a tricky gate he ran a really good 2nd in a 16-runner York handicap earlier this month. |
| 17 | Humbert | His four wins have all come at around this distance, but all on all-weather surfaces and his win record on turf is 0-5. However he has some good placed turf form on a slow surface and was a close 2nd of 22 over Newbury’s straight 1600m back in April. |
| 18 | Kynren | From a stable struggling for winners lately. Despite hanging right in the final 400m he came close to winning a valuable York handicap two starts back and then ran respectably at Newmarket last time. Recent starts have been on quick ground but he prefers it soft. |
| 19 | Raydiance | Came from the back to win a Listed event over 1400m on soft ground here at Ascot last year. However – despite the fact that the stable have had such a good season – he has generally made little impact during his 2018 campaign. |
| 20 | Zwayyan | Has an excellent record over the straight 1600m here with a win last year and a second on his penultimate start. He had some of the rivals he will meet here in front of him when 16th of 33 at Newmarket last time but the return to this track might be helpful. |
| Reserves | ||
| 21 | Original Choice | His last two wins have come at this distance. Running OK this season except for last time when he flopped badly on very slow ground over further than this at Newbury. Not an obvious winner here but he does come from a stable that command maximum respect. |
| 22 | Poet’s Society | Quite well beaten on his previous visits to Ascot, but he did lead all the way – and proved brave at the end – when landing a handicap over this distance on fast ground at York in August. Has won on soft ground but faster conditions generally suit best. |
| 23 | Via Serendipity | Has had this on his agenda for some time even though good or faster ground are his ideal conditions. Tough and consistent he was always travelling well when winning a handicap over a similar distance to this on the round course here in August. |
Others
19/10/2018
19/10/2018
