Horse Racing Betting Tips: Flaming Spear could prove too hot for Balmoral rivals
ANYONE who witnessed Raising Sand win a valuable soft ground Ascot handicap earlier this month will more than likely think that they saw the Balmoral Handicap (4.30pm) winner in action.
The truth is that they are right, but in my opinion, it is not Raising Sand but the horse that finished fifth behind him that day.
Six-year-old topweight FLAMING SPEAR was talked about as a potential Group One performer as a juvenile when trained by Kevin Ryan and wasn’t beaten that far in the French 2000 Guineas the following season.
Injuries and setbacks kept him off the track for large periods of the following two seasons, but a change in yard to Dean Ivory seems to have triggered a renaissance.
He ran well over this course and distance on ground that would have been too quick in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot back in June and again found conditions too lively when back in trip here again in July.
Victory at Glorious Goodwood was followed by last month’s eye catching run behind Raising Sand when put to sleep at the back of the field by an inexperienced apprentice.
He flew home when finally asked a question far too late and is better off at the weights here. Now that the rain has come, he makes plenty of appeal at 8/1 with Ladbrokes with the experienced Robert Winston back in the saddle.
You can make cases out for plenty of others here including Safe Voyage, Via Via and Kynren, but I’m prepared to throw a few quid each-way at Andrew Balding’s SOUTH SEAS at 20/1 with Coral.
He has yet to fire this season, but this is the first time he has encountered genuinely soft ground and a return to his two-year-old form would see him go close.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Flaming Spear e/w 4.30pm Ascot
South Seas e/w 4.30pm Ascot