4.40 1m. 20 Declared. Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qipco) (Str) (Class 2 ) of £200,000.00 3-y-o plus
1st - €103,080.00 2nd - €48,340.00 3rd - €24,180.00 4th - €12,080.00 5th - €6,040.00 6th - €3,020.00
Formscan - Having relished a return to a mile when scoring in good style over C&D last month, Shout merits respect on his current upward trajectory. However, three-year-olds have only managed one success in this contest since its inception 11 years ago and it may pay to focus on the older generation. Four-year-olds have proved triumphant in four of the last eight renewals, with NATIVE WARRIOR ticking plenty of the right boxes. Karl Burke's inmate arrives at the top of his game after scoring twice here in recent weeks, including the Challenge Cup last time, and he looks ready once again for the extra furlong. Arisaig has been far from disgraced outside of handicap company on her last two outings and makes some each-way appeal, while Great Acclaim has been shaping as if this longer distance could eke out further improvement.