Sea set to make a splash
TODAY is only the fourth running of the big-money Balmoral Handicap (4.30 Ascot), so trends are hard to come by.
Another complication is the track configuration as the stands’ side rail has been moved this afternoon, making the straight mile narrower than usual.
This means the field won’t split — which is the norm on the straight course — and you can theoretically argue a case for anything.
However, the three winners on record started from stalls 10, 4 and 1 and only one of the dozen placed horses have raced middle to high.
Two of the previous Balmoral scorers were up with the pace, while the hold-up winner had a stone in hand and a dream run on the far side, so we’ll stick to these stats to find our likely lad: Drawn 10 or lower. Prominent racer. That leaves us with only two qualifiers from the 20-strong line-up. Richard Fahey’s
WITHERNSEA ran with credit over seven furlongs at today’s track in July and is the each-way bet (2pts at 33-1 in places).
He was subsequently unlucky at Goodwood over today’s one-mile trip and is capable in this class if putting it all together.
LORD GLITTERS
(2pts win at 9-2 with Coral) looks rock solid on his recent course form and is well worth a saver.