16:35
Balmoral Handicap Stakes (sponsored By Qatar Racing)
Class 2, 1m (1m0f), Flat, 3yo+, £103,080, 20 runners
- Going
- GOOD
- Surface
- Turf
- Weather
- Mostly Cloudy
- Stalls
- Straight - Far side; Round - Inside
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Persica heads our ratings on 118, a clear six pounds better than Room Service on 112, and that gap is the heart of the case in a 20-runner Class 2 over a mile on good ground. Room Service is the chief danger, with Ebt's Guard a pound further back and Colori Forever another pound behind him, so the principal dangers are bunched together rather than stretched out. In a big field there is always the risk of trouble in running, but Persica has the strongest profile on our figures and gets the vote.
Runners
Toby Moore (7)
Richard Hannon 4/45
Persica has finished third last time out, and he's a winner two starts back and four starts back, so he arrives in grand shape after 22 days off, having run over today's trip and going. Our rating has him top of the 20 runners, though 142 lb is a notable burden.
- Sire
- New Bay (GB)
- Dam
- Rubira (AUS) by Lope De Vega
- Owner
- Martin Hughes Michael Kerr Dineen
- Foaled
- 12 Feb 2021
- Stable
- Herridge, Wilts
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 45 runs (9%)
- Trainer running to form
- 34%
- Ratings
- Perf 118, Speed 106
William Carver
Jamie Osborne 0/11
Room Service won two starts back and has run over today's trip and going, while our rating of 112 ranks him second of 20, making him a leading threat from stall 15. The one concern is an unplaced run last time out, and he returns after 31 days carrying 137 lb.
- Sire
- Kodi Bear (IRE)
- Dam
- Tamara Love (IRE) by Tamayuz
- Owner
- The Room Service Girls
- Foaled
- 28 Apr 2021
- Stable
- Upper Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 11 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 36%
- Ratings
- Perf 112, Speed 100
Jack Kearney (3)
Stephen Thorne 0/4
Jagged Edge arrives in solid recent form, third last time out and a winner two starts back, and he has run over today's trip and going before. Carrying 133 lb from stall 12, he looks mid-pack on our rating of 109, with a modest speed figure of 101 the one thing holding him back.
- Sire
- Blue Point (IRE)
- Dam
- Jaega (IRE) by Fastnet Rock
- Owner
- Shamrock Thoroughbreds
- Foaled
- 12 Apr 2022
- Stable
- Rush, Co Dublin
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 4 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 19%
- Ratings
- Perf 109, Speed 101
Daniel Tudhope
William Haggas 10/60
- Sire
- Wootton Bassett (GB)
- Dam
- Forest Crown (GB) by Royal Applause
- Owner
- Tony Bloom Ian Mcaleavy
- Foaled
- 2 Mar 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 10 wins from 60 runs (17%)
Jack Mitchell
Roger Varian 5/28
Indalo showed solid form earlier, a winner three starts back after a second and a third, but he has since slipped to an unplaced run and a ninth last time out. He has run over today's trip and going, and a 21-day break is fine, though 131 lb from stall 16 is a big ask.
- Sire
- Phoenix Of Spain (IRE)
- Dam
- Pearly Empress (FR) by Holy Roman Emperor
- Owner
- Varian Racing Ix
- Foaled
- 21 Apr 2021
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 28 runs (18%)
- Trainer running to form
- 66%
- Ratings
- Perf 104, Speed 87
Lewis Edmunds
William Muir & Chris Grassick 3/17
Ebt's Guard arrives in solid shape, third last time out and a fourth two starts back, and he has run over today's trip and on this going before. Yet to win in his last six, he's the sort to go close, though 35 days off and 130 lb from stall 21 is the main risk.
- Sire
- Cable Bay (IRE)
- Dam
- Whims Of Desire (GB) by Nathaniel
- Owner
- Jayant Pindolia
- Foaled
- 22 Feb 2021
- Stable
- Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 17 runs (18%)
- Trainer running to form
- 56%
- Ratings
- Perf 111, Speed 97
James Doyle
Ed Walker 5/45
Unplaced last time out, a fourth two starts back and a third four starts back, Torito is yet to win in his last five and returns after 81 days off, though he has run over today's trip and going before. Our rating of 110 sits well above his official 101, but 129 lb from stall 8 is a hefty burden.
- Sire
- Kingman (GB)
- Dam
- Montare (IRE) by Montjeu
- Owner
- Wathnan Racing
- Foaled
- 10 May 2020
- Stable
- Upper Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 45 runs (11%)
- Trainer running to form
- 52%
- Ratings
- Perf 110, Speed 108
Patrick McGettigan (5)
A. J. Martin 1/11
Orandi won two starts back and four starts back, but he was unplaced last time out and is hard to fancy at 129 lb from stall one, with our figures ranking him 19th of 20. On the plus side, he has run over today's trip and going and is fresh enough after 13 days.
- Sire
- Morandi (FR)
- Dam
- Elusive Feeling (USA) by Elusive Quality
- Owner
- C J Murtagh B Hourihane
- Foaled
- 15 May 2018
- Stable
- Summerhill, Co. Meath
- Trainer last 14 days
- 1 wins from 11 runs (9%)
- Trainer running to form
- 36%
- Ratings
- Perf 99, Speed 92
Hector Crouch
Ralph Beckett 5/40
Valvano won two starts back, but he was only seventh last time out, and a quick 14-day turnaround leaves little room to bounce back. He has run over today's trip and going and gets in off 129 lb from stall six, though our rating of 105 ranks him just 11th of 20.
- Sire
- Night Of Thunder (IRE)
- Dam
- Vuela (GB) by Duke Of Marmalade
- Owner
- Valmont
- Foaled
- 14 May 2021
- Stable
- Kimpton, Hants
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 40 runs (13%)
- Trainer running to form
- 58%
- Ratings
- Perf 105, Speed 93
Cieren Fallon
William Haggas 10/60
Bullet Point was runner-up two and three starts back but unplaced last time out, and he has been winless in his last five after 35 days off. He has run over today's trip and going, and our rating of 108 sits above his official 101, though 129 lb from stall 17 is no easy task.
- Sire
- Advertise (GB)
- Dam
- Crying Lightening (IRE) by Holy Roman Emperor
- Owner
- The Marathon Partnership
- Foaled
- 30 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 10 wins from 60 runs (17%)
- Trainer running to form
- 48%
- Ratings
- Perf 108, Speed 94
Ryan Moore
Marco Botti 4/21
Colori Forever won five starts back and was second three starts back, and he has run over today's trip and going before, so a 22-day break suits a fit colt. Our rating of 110 sits above his official 103, but the main risk is a seventh last time out and a fifth before that.
- Sire
- Bated Breath (GB)
- Dam
- Colorando (GB) by Territories
- Owner
- Scuderia Archi Romani
- Foaled
- 12 Mar 2023
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 21 runs (19%)
- Trainer running to form
- 55%
- Ratings
- Perf 110, Speed 97
Pat Dobbs
Richard Hannon 4/45
Fourth last time out and a third two starts back suggest Classic is in decent nick, and he has run over today's trip and going, but a 43-day break and a win five starts back leave him mid-pack. Carrying 128 lb from stall seven, his 106 rating ranks him only tenth of 20.
- Sire
- Dubawi (IRE)
- Dam
- Date With Destiny (IRE) by George Washington
- Owner
- Mrs J Wood
- Foaled
- 31 Mar 2020
- Stable
- Herridge, Wilts
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 45 runs (9%)
- Trainer running to form
- 34%
- Ratings
- Perf 106, Speed 92
Oisin Murphy
Andrew Balding 9/73
Mister Winston has finished sixth, eighth and seventh in his last three runs, and his only win in recent starts came six starts back, so he is hard to fancy. In his favour, he has run over today's trip and going, and he's fit after 21 days off, though our rating of 102 ranks him just 17th of 20.
- Sire
- Churchill (IRE)
- Dam
- Crazee Diamond (GB) by Rock Of Gibraltar
- Owner
- Norman Court Stud
- Foaled
- 21 Mar 2022
- Stable
- Kingsclere, Hants
- Trainer last 14 days
- 9 wins from 73 runs (12%)
- Trainer running to form
- 59%
- Ratings
- Perf 102, Speed 91
Billy Loughnane
Richard Hughes 1/21
Whip Cracker was only fifth last time out, though he won two starts back and has run over today's trip and going; ranked 15 of 20 on our figures, with a stable going 1 from 22, he's hard to fancy from stall 2 off 127 lb.
- Sire
- Cracksman (GB)
- Dam
- Wonderworld (GER) by Sea The Moon
- Owner
- Mr Abdulla Al Mansoori
- Foaled
- 25 Feb 2021
- Stable
- Upper Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 1 wins from 21 runs (5%)
- Trainer running to form
- 44%
- Ratings
- Perf 103, Speed 91
Tom Marquand
William Haggas 10/60
Scoville won last time out and was third two starts back, so he arrives in good heart, having also run over today's trip and on this going before. Against that, 35 days off, 127 lb from stall 23 and a patchy run before those two efforts temper enthusiasm, with our rating placing him twelfth of 20.
- Sire
- Too Darn Hot (GB)
- Dam
- Ribbons (GB) by Manduro
- Owner
- Sir M Arbibb Arbibc Budgett A Kheir
- Foaled
- 20 Apr 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 10 wins from 60 runs (17%)
- Trainer running to form
- 48%
- Ratings
- Perf 105, Speed 96
Colin Keane
Stephen Thorne 0/4
Third last time out and fresh enough after 21 days, he has run over today's trip and going before, but he's yet to win in his last six starts and was only seventh two starts back. Our rating of 108 puts him ninth of 20, carrying 127 lb from stall five.
- Sire
- Make Believe (GB)
- Dam
- Lambeth Walk (GB) by Charm Spirit
- Owner
- Shamrock Thoroughbreds
- Foaled
- 1 Feb 2022
- Stable
- Rush, Co Dublin
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 4 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 19%
- Ratings
- Perf 108, Speed 91
William Buick
John & Thady Gosden 7/34
Fifth Column was seventh last time out and is winless in recent starts, though a second three starts back shows he has a bit of ability, and he has run over today's trip and going. Our rating of 108 sits well above his official 99, but 35 days off and 127 lb temper the enthusiasm.
- Sire
- Kingman (GB)
- Dam
- Inner Secret (USA) by Singspiel
- Owner
- Godolphin
- Foaled
- 6 Apr 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 7 wins from 34 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 61%
- Ratings
- Perf 108, Speed 92
Saffie Osborne
Jamie Osborne 0/11
Hickory has won twice in his last six, including a win two starts back, but he was unplaced last time out and has alternated between wins and defeats. He has run over today's trip and going, yet our figures rank him 16th of 20, which makes him hard to fancy from stall 22.
- Sire
- Free Eagle (IRE)
- Dam
- Badr Al Badoor (IRE) by Acclamation
- Owner
- Martyn And Elaine Booth
- Foaled
- 15 May 2018
- Stable
- Upper Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 11 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 36%
- Ratings
- Perf 103, Speed 88
David Egan
J. S. Moore 0/10
Brian is back quickly after six days, having been unplaced last time out, though he won two starts back and was second three starts back, and he has run over today's trip and going before. Carrying 127 lb from draw 20, he sits 14th of 20 on our rating of 103, which holds him in midfield.
- Sire
- Shaman (IRE)
- Dam
- Alys Love (GB) by New Approach
- Owner
- N Pickett & Partners
- Foaled
- 20 Jan 2022
- Stable
- Upper Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 10 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 48%
- Ratings
- Perf 103, Speed 86
Robert Havlin
John & Thady Gosden 7/34
Gavriel is hard to fancy as our lowest-ranked runner of twenty, having slipped to a fourth last time out, though two wins in his last five starts and prior experience of today's trip and going give him some credit. He carries 126 lb from stall 18 after 21 days off.
- Sire
- Frankel (GB)
- Dam
- Thistle Bird (GB) by Selkirk
- Owner
- George Strawbridge
- Foaled
- 14 Mar 2023
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 7 wins from 34 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 61%
- Ratings
- Perf 98, Speed 80
Jack Dace (5)
David Menuisier 4/19
Winner last time out and a third six starts back are the positives, plus he has run over today's trip and going, but a sixth and an unplaced run before that make him hard to fancy. Ranked 18 of 20 on our figures, he sits in stall 19 under 126 lb.
- Sire
- Sioux Nation (USA)
- Dam
- Araca (FR) by Elusive Quality
- Owner
- All For One Racing
- Foaled
- 31 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Pulborough, W Sussex
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 19 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 60%
- Ratings
- Perf 101, Speed 91
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.