Empire Strikes Back

The Balmoral Handicap (3.45 Ascot) is an extremely valuable race but also fiendishly difficult to solve.

In the search for clues the obvious starting point is the Challenge Cup run at Ascot a fortnight ago.

Although over a furlong shorter than today’s trip (7f v 8f) many of the same horses re-oppose.

Empire Storm finished third last time but his performance deserves upgrading considering he tracked a very strong pace.

Of the horses that were within two lengths of the lead at the 2 furlong pole, Empire Storm saw out his race best. He was only beaten 2.55 lengths whilst the rest were beaten by 4.55, 5.4, 5.5, 6.75 & 54.50 lengths.

It was a disadvantage to be positioned near the front of the race and although that is Empire Storm’s running style, a step-up to a mile should result in a less frantic early pace. 

Although the 8-year-old has a poor strike rate (3-49) he has placed on 23 occasions and is likely to be thereabouts again.

Any cut in the ground is to his advantage and having finished third in the race last year, he is a good each-way bet at 20/1 (Bet365) with ¼ odds for a top-5 finish.