Balmoral is Ascot target for Escobar

ESCOBAR is likely to try and defend his crown in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day.

David O’Meara’s six- year- old is without success since beating subsequent Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Lord North in the race last year – but he has been set some stiff tasks.

Now rated just 3lb higher than 12 months ago, he also has the option of the Group One Queen

Elizabeth II Stakes on the Qipco British Champions Day card but O’Meara favours the handicap option.

“Escobar’s a little bit caught between two stools at the moment, but he will run in one race or the other on Champions Day,” said Upper Helmsley- based O’Meara, who also won the race in 2017 with Lord Glitters.

“He’s in the QEII, but that’s probably going to be a little too hard for him, and the Balmoral is probably a more realistic target. We thought he was ( fast) ground dependent, but he won it well on heavy last year, so he’s versatile in that respect.

“He won it off 105 and is now on 108. That might make him more vulnerable, but he ran OK in Ireland last time – and this seems to be his time of the year.”

Stablemate Orbaan is likely to join him too – with Shelir, Hortzadar ( who won at Goodwood yesterday) and Sagauteur also in the mix.

A surprise entry is Jim Goldie’s Euchen Glen, who won the Old Borough Cup at Haydock on his penultimate outing over six furlongs further.

“We thought we would have a look,” said Goldie.

“It’s a stiff mile, he’s got winning form at the track ( won over two miles at the Shergar Cup meeting in 2017) and he goes on anything.

“Soft ground would make it more of a staying race, but I would not be worried if it was good to firm, either.

“He nearly had his first run of this year in the Royal Hunt Cup, and the owner said he was going to get the white jacket out for me! But we keep speed in their legs, and fast- run races suit him.

“He’s in good nick, and the handicapper will probably tell you he ran a career- best at the weekend behind Addeybb at Ayr,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jockey Club Racecourses expect revenue losses to exceed initial estimates of £ 75m, following the announcement that crowds will be absent from sporting venues for the near future.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Tuesday the new constraints could be in place for up to six months, raising the prospect of the Cheltenham Festival having to be run behind closed doors in March.

Cheltenham is one of 15 tracks run by JCR, and group chief executive Nevin Truesdale is seeking further talks with Ministers.

He said: “Organisations in the sport and events sector are facing significant financial challenges after six months with no spectators or visitors to their venues.

“Previously we had estimated that revenues at Jockey Club Racecourses would be down this year by around £ 75m out of an annual turnover that is normally circa £ 200m, but that figure is being revised upwards on the basis we won’t have any level of spectators back from October 1.

“In the meantime we will continue to race behind closed doors, as the teams have done a great job doing safely since racing resumed on June 1.”

Escobar’s a little bit caught between two stools at the moment... David O’Meara, on the Ascot plans for six- year- old Escobar.