1m Balmoral Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+)
Amadeo Modigliani has been backed in off-the-boards since his confirmation by Coolmore this week. He is certainly one of the most unexposed. But this will be a whole new experience racing in this sort of handicap and I’m not convinced it will suit.
One that really sticks out in this is CLON COULIS, who finished an agonising second in the Royal Hunt Cup back here in June on soft ground. This filly drops 2lbs to that same mark of 99 and she seems to come alive at Ascot having won on her other previous start in a Listed race.
Jamie Spencer is in the saddle for this horse and nobody runs the straight mile round here with a hold up horse better than him. Clon Coulis is still trading with decent value and can go very close again to picking up a large handicap pot.
Lord North does look like he could be a Group horse in the making, but I’m going to back his stablemate KICK ON for John Gosden at almost three times the price at 14/1 as he’s already featured in three Group 1’s during his short career. He finished a not disgraced seventh in the 2000 Guineas earlier in the campaign before coming ninth in the Prix Du Jockey Club.
His pedigree suggests he should handle the heavy ground here with his sire Charm Spirit doing so to win at this meet a few years ago and he takes his first chance in a handicap off a mark of 108. His maiden was run with the hustle and bustle of 18 runners last year and he is expected to be very competitive in this despite an opening handicap mark of 108.
Low draws have also had a lot of success in this handicap in recent years and both our selections would benefit if this trend continues.
1pt each-way Clon Coulis @9/1, 16:40 Ascot, Saturday (1-6 places, 1/5 odds with Paddy Power)
1pt each-way Kick On @14/1, 16:40 Ascot, Saturday (1-6 places, 1/5 odds with Paddy Power)