The pick of the prices in the Balmoral....

Friday, 20th October 2023

The pick of the prices in the Balmoral….

Storm Babet is currently assaulting the country….

…. and the biblical deluge of rain over the last 24-hours makes for testing conditions tomorrow afternoon at Ascot….

That’s no problem for AL MUBHIR in the Balmoral (4-25) – who can be backed at 12s & 11s this morning….

He handles testing conditions with aplomb….

…. illustrated by his run in the Lincoln and his subsequent win at Leicester earlier this season….

And whilst his pedigree suggests he’s bred for the 10f trip….

…. trainer William Haggas has been vocal about wanting to target him at a big prize over the mile….

Haggas said as much ahead of the 4yo’s appearance in the Listed-class Dubai Duty Free Cup Stakes at Newbury last month….

…. and also talked about the horse having ‘bigger fish to fry’ a little later in the season….

I can only assume he was talking about tomorrow’s assignment and I reckon a big run is expected after a decent enough showing in that prep-race at Newbury….

The ground has certainly come right and he’s drawn on the right side of the track….

…. if you take the winners of big-field events run up the straight at Ascot this season as your guide….

That said there’s not a tremendous amount of pace on that side of the track….

…. with the exception of Awaal (another horse I looked long and hard at for this)….

With that in mind I’m backing two horses in this field – with my other pick berthed on the opposite side of the track….

RAADOBARG is a fair price at 16s & 14s for a horse that’s been running in quality pattern races without quite asserting – but without disgracing himself….

He might just find things that bit easier at handicap level….

…. and he’s a proven performer on tomorrow’s ground….

He’s an interesting runner at a more-than-reasonable price….

• Finally….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back next week….

Meantime – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd