Berkshire Whisper sparks Royal Ascot dreams

Berkshire Whisper provided Andrew Balding with another victory in the BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap at Newcastle.

The Dark Angel colt had only made his debut in January and Balding managed to get two further qualifying runs into him, which he won.

Running off a mark of 89, he looks a good bit ahead of the handicapper based on this clear-cut success under Oisin Murphy.

Sent off the 9-2 favourite in what looked a wide-open affair on paper, Murphy kept things simple and was never far from the pace, kicking for home a furlong out to win by a length and a quarter from Master Technician.

Murphy and Balding combined to win with Fire Demon 12 months ago, the first year the race was run as a handicap.

Owner Paul Spickett said: “That was brilliant, Oisin gave him a peach of a ride – that was class.

“We didn’t come here for the weather, let’s put it that way. He’s been a bit green, but he’s been doing well and the last time we brought him up here was just to see whether he was good on the course.

“I think he’s got a lot to give. I’ll have to get the top hat and tails brushed off and see where we go, maybe a Commonwealth Cup, who knows? We might give him another run beforehand, just to be sure as we don’t want to make ourselves look stupid, but I think we’ll be there.

“Andrew will know what to do, I have faith in him.”

The bang-in-form Balding made it a double on the day when Storm Star (5-2 favourite) landed a course and distance hat-trick in the BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap.

Ridden twice to victory by the now-retired Hayley Turner at the turn of the year, Jason Watson was on board on this occasion.

Balding’s wife, Anna Lisa, said: “We’re absolutely delighted, what a little star he is. He’s a huge favourite of everyone’s at home and obviously having a winner like this for Jeff (Smith, owner) is fantastic.

“He is in the Lockinge. At this time of year it isn’t quite as strong as it looks and it was a bit of a ‘let’s put him in and see’ situation, but now I think Jeff and Andrew might have to have a chat about it.”