Punters should keep some of their powder dry at the big Champions Day meeting at Ascot as we have two cracking value bets in the Balmoral Handicap, the traditional "Getting Out Stakes"
CLON COULIS and ESCOBAR make big appeal. The Dave Barron trained Clon Coulis has tremendous form over this track and trip.
Last summer she won a valuable mares listed race on fast ground, and this season on soft was just touched off by Afaak in the Royal Hunt Cup.
That was off 99 and she's back on that mark now with Jamie Spencer, so lethal in Ascot handicaps, on board again.
Kynren and Raising Sand both finished behind that day and have climbed the ratings since following victories in handicaps at this track.
While fairly ground versatile, the heavy terrain certainly won't bother her as she is by Vale Of York, and as a hold up horse a draw in stall one really makes little difference.
A repeat of her Royal Hunt Cup showing would be good enough to score now.
Escobar arrives here right on top of his game and has run marvelously throughout the summer in big handicaps and on fast ground too.
Yet his sire Famous Name loved juice in the ground and Escobar finished second in this last year on a soft surface when caught late by Sharja Bridge.
Adam Kirby was on board that day, and also last time out when he was third over seven furlongs here, and David O'Meara calls on his services again.
He is drawn 21 but Kirby can bury him in behind horses as soon as they leave the stalls.
While he is 4 lbs. higher than in this last year it is a very compressed handicap, and in any event he is a much more seasoned and polished performer these days.
Obviously Lord North needs no introduction right now and has Frankie in the plate but it won't be easy off top weight.
Donnacha O'Brien rides Amedeo Modigliani who met all sorts of traffic issues at Cork when fourth to Up Helly Ya in what was probably not Donnacha's most inspired effort this season.
Plenty more with chances but no need to look beyond Clon Coulis and Escobar
Ascot 16:40
1/2 Point Each Way Clon Coulis (9/1 Paddy Power or Skybet both paying 6 places)
1/2 Point Each Way Escobar (18/1 generally, look for bookie paying at least 5 places)
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