80-1 outsider of the field Shelir lands another Balmoral prize for David O'Meara

Saturday: Balmoral Handicap, Ascot

On a day of upsets the biggest one of all came in the final race as the forgotten 80-1 outsider of the 20-runner line-up, Shelir, landed the Balmoral Handicap.

In another bookmakers’ benefit race, the six-year-old swooped late to take the sole handicap on the Champions Day card and land another useful pot for David O’Meara, who was winning the £200,000 mile contest for the third time.

Shelir pounced under a patient Jason Watson to nab the William Haggas-trained Sweet Believer by one and a half lengths with 16-1 chance Tacarib Bay back in third. The Tote tricast paid out £10,658.61 to a £1 stake with 9-2 favourite Bashkirova well-beaten in 12th to compound a frustrating day for Haggas.

Shelir had only won once in six starts since finishing seventh on his first attempt in this event 12 months ago but in O'Meara, who took this prize in 2017 with Lord Glitters and again with Escobar two years later, he had the perfect handler to prep him for the big day.

O’Meara said: “That’s a great prize to win. I didn't really expect him to win but I thought he would finish close, maybe fourth or fifth.

“There have been plenty of shock results today but I did think our horse was overpriced. He’s always had a lot of potential but is a tough ride and Jason was excellent on him today – he deserves a lot of credit for that performance.”

Read more from Ascot:

'It was ground, simple as that' - Baaeed's unbeaten record ended by Bay Bridge

'It's a funny old game' - 33-1 Bayside Boy strikes as Inspiral blows the start

'We'll try and win the Arc' - dreams revived as Emily Upjohn gets her Group 1

Ascot erupts as Frankie Dettori and Kinross cruise home in Champions Sprint

'It was a proper battle' - Trueshan holds on to complete Champions Day hat-trick

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