16:35 Ascot

Saturday 17 October 2026

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:2016:0016:35

Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qatar Racing) (Str)

Off time: 16:39 | Winning time: 1m 40.84s

(10)

Persica²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Toby Moore⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 114| D

22/1

Back to winning ways in listed race at Newbury in July before landing third Group 3 success of career in Superior Mile at Haydock (soft) last month. Fair 5 lengths third to Talk of New York in Joel at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) since. Most likeable but some performance needed off mark of 114.

Form: 521313

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(15)

Room Service^b,t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: William Carver| T: J A Osborne| OR: 109

125/1

Listed winner (6f) for Kevin Ryan and bounced back to his very best in a first-time blinkers and tongue tie combination when defying a big weight in 7f Newcastle handicap on reappearance for new yard in June. Not in anything like the same form when last of 10 in Sandown listed race since, though.

Form: 2875-10

(12)

Jagged Edge²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jack Kearney⁽³⁾| T: Stephen Thorne| OR: 105| BF| D

25/1

Has progressed into a smart performer for current yard, winning listed race at Killarney (1m, good) in August by 1¼ lengths from Carolina Jetstream. Not in quite the same form when third in a similar race at Listowel (1m, good to soft) last month. One of 2 for Stephen Thorne.

Form: 103013

(16)

Indalo^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 103| D

16/1

Gained reward for some excellent placed efforts in top handicaps when bagging a good prize at Sandown (1m, good to firm) in July. Bounced back from rare below-par effort at Glorious Goodwood when creditable ninth of 27 in Cambridgeshire but it underlines he needs more from his triple-figure mark.

Form: 2-23109

(21)

Ebt's Guard³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 102| CD

11/1

Successful twice last season before close second to Crown of Oaks off this mark in this. Hard to knock consistency in defeat since, including a fine fourth in Royal Hunt Cup over C&D in June. Creditable 1¼ lengths third of 17 to Scoville at Doncaster 5 weeks ago. Likely to make presence felt again.

Form: 439443

(8)

Torito⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: E Walker| OR: 101| D

40/1

Smart gelding who had something of an underwhelming 2025 and failed to fire in the Chesterfield Cup on Glorious Goodwood reappearance in July. First run for yard after leaving John & Thady Gosden. Others are more obvious.

Form: 06364-0

(1)

Orandi^t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: Patrick McGettigan⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 101| D

33/1

Right back to his best after a low-key start to the year when landing the BMW Mile Handicap at Galway in July. Added another valuable pot at the Curragh (1¼m, good to soft) last month but not in the same form at Longchamp since.

Form: 781010

(6)

Valvano¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 101| BF| D

28/1

Took a step forward after 5 months off (gelded and had breathing operation) when gaining a first win since his debut in 7f handicap at Southwell (form franked) in August. Disappointing in a listed race at Redcar since, though.

Form: 033-617

(17)

Bullet Point^p³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Haggas| OR: 101| D

16/1

Developed into a smart performer in 2025, successful twice in handicaps either side of a second in the Royal Hunt Cup over C&D. Good seconds over C&D and at York this summer but behind a few of these at Doncaster last month.

Form: 0-70220

(14)

Colori Forever²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: M Botti| OR: 103| C

16/1

Smart effort to land a 7f course handicap win in May. Has found it tougher at listed/Group level since but the booking of Ryan Moore catches the eye on this return to handicap company.

Form: 210257

(7)

Classic⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 100| D

28/1

Won at Newbury in May and remained in good form since, including 1¾ lengths fourth of 13 to Hickory over C&D (good) 43 days ago. Each-way claims.

Form: 219834

(3)

Mister Winston^p1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 100| D

28/1

Free-going sort. On the up when successful at Newmarket/Epsom but his progress has stalled since. Needs to resume his progression in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 100786

(2)

Whip Cracker^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Loughnane| T: R Hughes| OR: 99| D

20/1

Useful gelding who resumed from 4 months off to end a long losing run in 13-runner handicap at Chester (7.5f, good) in August. Not seen to best effect in 7f listed race at Newbury since but doesn't obviously have enough in hand over his mark to win a race like this.

Form: 0-03215

(23)

Scoville^t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 99| D

4/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who was much better than bare result on back of a breathing operation in Royal Hunt Cup/Golden Mile this summer. Confirmed those impressions with a ready win in 1m handicap at the Doncaster St Leger meeting last month. Had a bit to spare and 4 lb rise could prove lenient.

Form: 4-87031

(5)

Excellent Believe²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Colin Keane| T: Stephen Thorne| OR: 99| BF| D

9/1

Useful sort, placed several times at Group 3/listed level for Jack Channon. Shaped well in a pair of 7f handicaps for new yard last month, looking unlucky not to finish closer when third of 10 at the Curragh latterly. Respected.

Form: 330073

(13)

Fifth Column^v1³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 99| D

22/1

Enjoyed a productive campaign at 3, winning 4 times including a valuable event at York (1m). Good second off 2 lb higher at Newmarket (9f) in May. Off 12 weeks, respectable 4½ lengths seventh of 17 to Scoville at Doncaster (1m, good) 35 days ago. First-time visor replaces cheekpieces.

Form: 00-0207

(22)

Hickory^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 99| CD

11/2

Veteran who goes really well here, winning a pair of C&D handicaps this year. Shaped as if still in form when mid-field in 7f Challenge Cup here a fortnight ago and should be happier back at 1m.

Form: 061510

(20)

Brian⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: D Egan| T: J S Moore| OR: 99

66/1

Dual winner for Sylvester Kirk in 2024 who bounced back to best for current yard when readily winning 11-runner handicap at Haydock (7f, soft) last month but found out off this 9 lb higher mark at Goodwood last weekend.

Form: 087210

(18)

Gavriel²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 101| BF| C| D

11/2

Well-bred Frankel colt who has progressed fast, comfortably seeing off next-time-out winner Balzac on 1¼m course handicap debut in September. First home in his group when fourth of 27 in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket (9f, firm) since. Capable of better again and likely to have a big say.

Form: 41-214

(19)

Tribal Chief^t²⁴^{(ex 6)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Jack Dace⁽⁵⁾| T: D Menuisier| OR: 92| D

11/1

Shaped well when third in Lincoln at Doncaster (1m, good) and Victoria Cup here (7f, good to firm) this spring. Ruined his chance with slow starts on his next 3 outings but finally put it all together to win at Goodwood (1m, good to firm) 24 days ago. 6 lb penalty. RESERVE.

Form: 336061

Non-Runners

(9)

Crown Of Oaks³¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: W J Haggas J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Scoville (4/1), Hickory (11/2), Gavriel (11/2), Crown Of Oaks (13/2), Excellent Believe (9/1), Ebt's Guard (11/1), Tribal Chief (11/1), Indalo (16/1), Colori Forever (16/1), Bullet Point (16/1), Whip Cracker (20/1), Fifth Column (22/1), Persica (22/1), Jagged Edge (25/1), Valvano (28/1), Classic (28/1), Mister Winston (28/1), Orandi (33/1), Torito (40/1), Brian (66/1), Room Service (125/1)

A switch to hold-up tactics has worked a treat for SCOVILLE and he still looks well treated off 4 lb higher than when winning with a bit to spare at Doncaster last month. The lightly-raced Gavriel was first home on his side in the Cambridgeshire and rates an obvious danger. Irish raider Excellent Believe and the reliable Ebt's Guard also make the shortlist.