Balmoral Hcap - Ascot Saturday.

Out of curiosity, what price do you think he'll go to once we know he's running, we know his jockey, we know who else is running, we know the draw and we know the going?


This is looking like a very competitive handicap.

Looks like a minefield to me at this stage!

The first thing to catch my eye perusing the entries is that Ryan Moore is already jocked up on GM Hopkins. Forefeited his chance in the Cambridgeshire by rearing up in the stalls and has been dropped a couple of lbs. Course form of 1210 (would have done better with a clearer run in the Hunt Cup), far from disgraced in the Lockinge and 2-6 in handicaps with 21 or more runners.

I assume Frankie is earmarked for the Al Shaqab runner or Castle Harbour but Gosden also has Remarkable in the entries for Cheveley Park Stud for whom Moore is usually preferred jockey if available.

But I'm with PJay, so much can change between Monday and Saturday morning e.g. Moore might jump ship,I assume the field limit here is 28 as in the Hunt Cup so bound to be at least 5 places, and maybe even 6 in places available on Sat.

Firmament does look one of the more solid ones at the top of the market - Morando has never been in a race like this before, Castle Harbour has been off for ages, Yuften has had more trainers than Usain Bolt - you'd have to respect Very Talented whose form was franked by Aclaim at Newmarket last week.

This will be tough enough to solve once the final decs are through though, let alone now.

Reaseheath
Think the max field for this 20.
Moore was 2/2 on  hopkins before he reared lto.... Think he is a cracking e/w bet @ 20s.....in race where the weight spread of the field won't be too much imho.

Trev, I'm on GM Hopkins as well, but only at the 16's, as only firm left doing 20's now is Betstar, and I don't know much about them, good luck with him.

Also went for Chil The Kite ew 33's

Are you saying you've backed Yuften, because Oddschecker are blue across the board, and therefore ' there must be something in it ' ?

So you've backed it on the say so of a ' Tipster' !

I too 14s on AFJAAN and Bronze Angel 33s.

Frankie booked to ride him - although im not a big fan of the jockey in big field handicaps this season... think the horse is on a decent mark and am expecting him to run well.

Hate it when they cut the width of the track in half, but for the sake of having a bet I'll plump for Afjaan @ 10/1 who should relish the extra furlong.

Very Talented not declared. Wonder why?. Would have got in so either they have bigger plans or feel the other Godolphin entry has a better chance.
Glad I didnt go in antepost.

Another tricky Ascot handicap. Nailed the last one and am going in e/w on Donncha at 16's.

Cracking betting heat to finish what is an excellent card.
Been waiting for Third Time Lucky to get some ease in the ground for one of these big hcaps, he's run well the last twice on ground quicker than he wants, he looks sure to go well 2moro, as long as not undone by the draw??
He would be near the top of my short list for the race.

Bookmakers shoring up the market, they like doing that, even more so of late, with being asked to give more cash back into the game.
Was hoping the g/s part would still be in the going report 2day for my ew play, now officially Gd ground.
I'am hoping it rides a touch on the easy side, that will help 3TL

Desparately difficult but will back Zhui Feng each way (5 places)

Added a little each way on Remarkable.

Messy race. Would have been interesting had the favourite and Donncha had a run and I think Yuften backers are very fortunate that they didn't.

Good Call Facts, could  not be bothered to go through the form so i put it in my placepot and collected,would probably have won with a bit more luck.

It was a ' car crash ' of a race in the last furlong. At least 4 horses got stopped in their run.
Personally, I think the unlucky loser was the Fav. Will certainly be interested when it next appears in a Handicap.