Balmoral Handicap (sponsored By Qipco) |
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| (British Champions Series) Handicap, Ascot 16:30 £250,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m, Class 2  |
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| Saturday 20th October 2018 | |
1 Sharja Bridge 8/1
2 Escobar 33/1
3 Mjjack 20/1
4 Another Batt 66/1
20 ran Distances: ¾l, ½l, nk
Time: 1m 43.50s (slow by 4.90s)
Sharja Bridge come from the clouds and beats Escobar!
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The four-year-old son of Oasis Dream ran on strongly in the closing stages to collar 33/1 shot Escobar, trained by David O'Meara, to score by three-quarters of a length under a power-packed ride from James Doyle.
Newmarket handler Varian said: "I spent seven furlongs of that race swearing! I did not think we were going to get a run.
"Sharja Bridge is a talented horse and I have always thought a lot of him. He has run some good races in defeat this year.
"It was a shame that Andrea couldn't ride and I'm sure he'll be sat at home upset that he couldn't ride. However, he's had a great season.
"Well done to James Doyle who gave the horse a great ride."
Adam Kirby, who rode the 33/1 chance, said: "It was a very tricky race. I thought I had got there late enough, but it was still too soon.
"Possibly we have bumped into one on the day - it opens up and you have got to go when you have got to go.
"I have ridden him a few times and I keep saying that he has a lot of class. He just needs things to go right. I thought it was going right for me today - I am just gutted!"
O'Meara added: "He is a hugely talented horse but he needs things to just drop right for him. He just got to front too early through nobody's fault."
Balmoral Handicap (sponsored By Qipco)
£250,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m, Class 2
20 ran
Going: Soft
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (8) | Sharja Bridge 8/1 | James Doyle 9-5 |
R Varian | 4 | |
| 2nd | (15) | ¾ | Escobar (IRE) 33/1 | A Kirby 9-2 |
D O'Meara | 4 |
| 3rd | (7) | ½ | Mjjack (IRE) 20/1 | C Lee (3) 9-9 |
K R Burke | 4 |
| 4th | (17) | nk | Another Batt (IRE) 66/1 | Cameron Noble (5) 9-1 |
George Scott | 3 |
| 5th | (18) | ½ | Kynren (IRE) 6/1 | W Buick 8-13 |
T D Barron | 4 |
| 6th | (20) | 1 | Raising Sand (ex6) 6/1 | Nicola Currie (3) 9-2 |
J A Osborne | 6 |
| 7th | (23) | hd | Argentello (IRE) (ex6) 9/2f | L Dettori 9-1 |
J H M Gosden | 3 |
| 8th | (2) | 1¼ | Mitchum Swagger 11/1 | Harry Bentley 9-4 |
R M Beckett | 6 |
| 9th | (10) | ½ | Waarif (IRE) 25/1 | C J McGovern (3) 9-0 |
D O'Meara | 5 |
| 10th | (11) | ½ | South Seas (IRE) 12/1 | Oisin Murphy 9-2 |
A M Balding | 4 |
| 11th | (22) | 1½ | Flaming Spear (IRE) 14/1 | R Winston 9-10 |
D K Ivory | 6 |
| 12th | (3) | s.h | Hathal (USA) 16/1 | J P Spencer 9-9 |
J A Osborne | 6 |
| 13th | (16) | ¾ | Tricorn (IRE) 25/1 | R Havlin 9-1 |
J H M Gosden | 4 |
| 14th | (5) | 2 | Via Via (IRE) 10/1 | R L Moore 9-1 |
J Tate | 6 |
| 15th | (4) | ¾ | Safe Voyage (IRE) 9/1 | S P Davis (5) 9-3 |
J J Quinn | 5 |
| 16th | (12) | 1 | Zwayyan 14/1 | Jason Watson 8-12 |
A M Balding | 5 |
| 17th | (13) | 1¼ | Humbert (IRE) 25/1 | Josephine Gordon 8-13 |
H Palmer | 4 |
| 18th | (19) | 6 | Raydiance 50/1 | Jonathan Fisher (7) 8-13 |
K R Burke | 3 |
| 19th | (21) | 4 | Circus Couture (IRE) 33/1 | J F Egan 9-7 |
Jane Chapple-Hyam | 6 |
| 20th | (9) | 5 | Aquarium (ex6) 33/1 | F Norton 9-3 |
M Johnston | 3 |
