16:35 Ascot

Saturday 19 October 2024

All13:2013:5514:3515:1515:5516:35

Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qipco) (Str)

Off time: 16:36 | Winning time: 1m 46.59s

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(9)

Holloway Boy⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: W Buick| T: K R Burke| OR: 110| C| D

12/1

First success since taking the 2022 Chesham on debut when proving ½ length too strong for Prague (Group 2 winner since) in Haydock Group 3 (1m, good) 6 weeks ago. Posted some good efforts in big-field handicaps over the summer.

Form: 352331

(1)

Sir Busker^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽³⁾| T: W J Knight| OR: 110| CD

50/1

Credit to connections and ended 2-year losing run in big-field handicap at the York Ebor meeting. Respectable 2¼ lengths fourth of 9 to Persica in listed race at Ayr (1¼m, good to firm) since but very smart effort needed to defy this mark.

Form: 465414

(23)

Cicero's Gift¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Billy Loughnane| T: C Hills| OR: 109| D

18/1

Much improved when making a successful return in strong 1m Sandown handicap (soft) from Holloway Boy. Respectable fourth to that same reopposing rival in a Haydock Group 3 in September but never involved in a Longchamp Group 2 a fortnight ago. His mark demands a very smart performance.

Form: 17-1748

(18)

Witch Hunter²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: J P Spencer| T: R Hannon| OR: 109| C

25/1

Won the Buckingham Palace here and Group 2 Hungerford at Newbury last year. Only narrowly failed to win the latter race again in August and also a good third in 1m Haydock Group 3 last month. Latest Newbury effort wasn't one of his best, though.

Form: 434236

(14)

Elnajmm^p1³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 104| BF| CD

16/1

Lightly-raced 4-y-o who readily won 1m handicaps at Newcastle and over C&D on his return in midsummer. Respectable 2½ lengths fifth in listed race at Sandown (1m, good) 31 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Wears first-time cheekpieces. Enters calculations back in handicap.

Form: 21-1195

(7)

Popmaster¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: R Coakley| T: E Walker| OR: 104| C

50/1

Course winner who ended 2023 with an excellent second in the Challenge Cup over 7f here but he was well held in this year's running of that race a fortnight ago. Others arrive with more pressing claims.

Form: 770560

(5)

Carrytheone^h,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: C Soumillon| T: M L W Bell| OR: 104| D

14/1

A two-time 7f scorer this term who also shaped well in a few big handicaps here this summer. Another fine effort when sixth of 18 in Challenge Cup here (7f, good) 14 days ago, left with too much to do. Plenty of soft ground form during his time in Ireland and Soumillon a good booking.

Form: 451346

(6)

Daysofourlives^p³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J Mitchell| T: M Botti| OR: 101| CD

9/1

First home in his group when fourth of 29 in the Hunt Cup over C&D (firm) at the Royal meeting and followed that with a win at the Doncaster St Leger meeting. Should remain competitive up 4 lb but needs to show he's fully effective on this ground.

Form: 31-3241

(4)

Mr Professor¹²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: D Egan| T: Raphael Freire| OR: 97| D

14/1

Better than ever when winning Lincoln at Doncaster on heavy-ground on reappearance. Twice below that level on much quicker ground in the first half of the summer but better can be expected back under his optimum conditions after a break.

Form: 126-100

(21)

Thunder Run⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: K R Burke| OR: 100| D

7/2

Very promising individual who was having only the fifth start of his career when seeing off Mirsky by ½ length in valuable 1m handicap at the York Ebor meeting. Soft ground is an unknown for this strong traveller but likely capable of even better.

Form: 21131

(3)

Bopedro^v¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96| D

17/2

Losing run is mounting up but plenty of creditable efforts to his name this season, including third of 18 in the Challenge Cup over 7f here a fortnight ago. Fourth in this 12 months ago. Each-way claims again.

Form: 560203

(10)

Star Of Orion^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 96| BF

33/1

Back to his best for his new yard when placed at Newmarket (1m) and Sandown (7f, twice) at the end of the summer. Shaped as if still in form when seventh of 18 in the Challenge Cup over 7f here 2 weeks ago. Acts in the mud.

Form: 3-92337

(12)

Alaskan Gold^b1⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A King| OR: 99

80/1

Useful at his best for Karl Burke (including second in listed race on heavy) but well below par when last of 5 in Chelmsford handicap on yard debut in August. Blinkered first time. Hard to fancy.

Form: 72-5445

(17)

Toimy Son²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D Menuisier| OR: 95| D

9/1

Chose a good day to open his account for this yard when a 2-length winner of the valuable Golden Mile at Glorious Goodwood in August. Better form in defeat since (third of 31 in Cambridgeshire latest) and should go well again.

Form: 243143

(8)

Mexicali Rose¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: M Guyon| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 95

18/1

Useful filly who won a Galway handicap in July. Creditable 3 lengths third of 14 in Tipperary listed race (7.4f, soft, 20/1) 13 days ago, never nearer. Not obviously well handicapped.

Form: 610353

(13)

Godwinson^p1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: S De Sousa| T: W J Haggas| OR: 95| D

18/1

Fine placed efforts in Newbury and York in the first half of this year and returned from a 10-week break to win a 1m Goodwood handicap (good to soft) in August. Caught on the wrong part of the track when mid-field in the Cambridgeshire last time and treated as if still in form. Cheekpieces added.

Form: 5-20410

(22)

Lattam¹¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Ryan Sexton| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 95| D

18/1

Good second to Mr Professor in the Lincoln at Doncaster (1m, heavy) in March on his reappearance and first outing for Julie Camacho. Not at the same level in his 2 outings since but given a break (goes well fresh) and could bounce back with a bang on ground which suits.

Form: 357-285

(20)

Padishakh^t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| D

33/1

Useful in France and back to that level for new yard when going close in a 1m Ayr handicap last month. Well held at York last weekend but it wasn't a race run to suit his hold-up style. Connections have tasted success in this race before.

Form: 607420

(2)

State Actor⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: C D Hayes| T: W T Farrell| OR: 95| BF| D

8/1

Won twice over 1m at the Curragh in the spring, including on heavy. Added to his largely progressive record when beaten only a head in the Irish Cambridgeshire back at the Curragh at the end of August. Much respected Irish raider.

Form: 3-21142

(19)

Mirsky^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: K Shoemark| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| BF| D

16/1

Useful ex-French performer who arrives in good nick, finishing fifth of 18 in the Challenge Cup over 7f here a fortnight ago. 1m probably suits him a bit better and he's another from the yard with an each-way shout.

Form: 905285

Forecasts

Thunder Run (7/2), State Actor (8/1), Bopedro (17/2), Toimy Son (9/1), Daysofourlives (9/1), Holloway Boy (12/1), Carrytheone (14/1), Mr Professor (14/1), Elnajmm (16/1), Mirsky (16/1), Lattam (18/1), Cicero's Gift (18/1), Godwinson (18/1), Mexicali Rose (18/1), Witch Hunter (25/1), Padishakh (33/1), Star Of Orion (33/1), Sir Busker (50/1), Popmaster (50/1), Alaskan Gold (80/1)

A host with chances. TOIMY SON has some good efforts to his name in strong handicaps in recent months and might prove the answer under Oisin Murphy. Elnajmm, Lincoln runner-up Lattam, who has a strong record fresh and on deep ground, and recent Challenge Cup third Bopedro head the dangers. First reserve Qirat already has one really good effort to his name in a big-field handicap here this autumn and would be a major player if getting a run.