In the 1m Balmoral Handicap that brings proceedings to a close on British Champions Day at Ascot this Saturday (16:40), Clon Coulis makes plenty of each-way appeal at 10/1 with Paddy Power who pay six places.
Trained by David Barron, this five-year-old has won once and finished second in two starts over course and distance.
That placed effort came in the Royal Hunt Cup back in June where he finished a nose second of 28 to Afaak off a mark of 99 and was arguably an unlucky loser.
After being held-up well off the pace travelling strongly under regular pilot Jamie Spencer, who is once again in the saddle, Clon Coulis was denied a clear run when making his move two from home.
When he eventually did see daylight, the son of Vale Of York flew home to go down by the narrowest of margins and would have won in another stride.
It was a terrific effort, given how the race panned out. Clon Coulis backed it up with a decent fifth next time out in a Listed contest at Pontefract off a revised rating of 103.
He also caught the eye two starts back when getting in no luck in-running and finishing a never nearer 3 1/4 lengths eighth of 19 to Excellent Times off 102.
Clon Coulis now drops back in grade having contested a Listed contest last time out at Newmarket. He’s also now able to race off 99 again.
That is the same as his fine run in the Royal Hunt Cup and 2lb lower than when last successful at Chelmsford back in March.
It gives Clon Coulis major claims from a handicapping perspective and he also has winning form on soft ground.
Kynren another leading contender for Barron
Barron also saddles another leading contender in Kynren, an ultra-tough and consistent sort with a good record in races of this nature.
This five-year-old enjoyed a tremendous 2017 when winning three of his four starts. Although Kynren failed to get his head in front last season, he did post some cracking efforts in defeat.
They included first time up at Doncaster when going down by 2 3/4 lengths and third to High Acclaim in the 20-runner Spring Mile.
He went on to round off the campaign with an excellent two-length fifth of 20 to Sharja Bridge in this contest off 99.
Kynren then looked as good as ever on seasonal reappearance when a keeping on 2 1/4 lengths second of 19 to handicap blot Auxerre in the Lincoln at Doncaster.
The son of Clodovil then found only Cape Byron a neck too good in the Victoria Cup over 7f at this venue, before running very well to finish a 2 1/2 lengths fifth of 28 to Afaak in the Royal Hunt Cup over course and distance.
Kynren comes into this having bagged a deserved big race success in the 7f Challenge Cup at this venue two weeks ago when running on strongly to readily beat Greenside by half-a-length.
He does have to shoulder a 6lb penalty for that taking success, but was value for more than the winning margin and is clearly right at the top of his game.
So, under his optimum conditions, Kynren looks sure to make a bold bid to follow-up and rates a solid each-way betting proposition at 7/1 with Betfair who pay five places.
Escobar also has a shout in Balmoral Handicap
Given that he finished 3 3/4 lengths behind Kynren last time out in the 7f Challenge Cup, and now meets that rival on 6lb better terms, Escobar is another well worth considering from an each-way perspective.
That was the latest in a number of solid efforts by the David O’Meara trained five-year-old this season, including when slowly away before finishing strongly to be beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Mojito in the 13-runner Coral Challenge at Sandown.
Escobar went on to score in fine style at Haydock when cleverly beating subsequent next time out winner Rise Hall by three-quarters of a length.
He backed that up with a fine staying on, never nearer two-length third of 20 to Beat Le Bon in the Golden Mile Handicap at Glorious Goodwood off 101.
The son of Famous Name was also far from disgraced when a 2 1/4 lengths fifth of six to Zaaki in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes at York. His current mark of 105 should not be beyond him.
Escobar will also appreciate the step back up to 1m in the Balmoral Handicap, a trip over which he has registered two of his four career success.
This race should also be run to suit, so Escobar has far more going for him than his odds of 16/1 with BetVictor – who also five places – suggest.
