17:00 Royal Ascot
Saturday 24 June 2017
All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:35
Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
- 3YO plus | Class 1 | 6f | Good to Firm (Firm in places) | 27 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 17:04 | Winning time: 1m 13.02s
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Looked progressive last year but has struggled a little on recent starts and will find it tough to defy top weight here, particularly over this trip.
Very effective hold up performer on his day and winner of a valuable contest at York in October. This handicap mark may just prove a little beyond him in a race as competitive as this.
All his wins have come over 7f or further but has run well over this trip including in this race last year. Probably wants a little cut in the ground and needs them to go a really strong gallop on the front end if he is going to be seen to best effect.
Finished an excellent third in the Epsom Dash having won at York the time before and versatile ground wise at least. The concern would be that most of his winning has come over 5f and the stiff finish over 6f could find him out. On a fair mark and can't be dismissed out of hand.
Very smart performer but all his best efforts have come on the AW. One of his better turf efforts did come when he finished third in this contest back in 2015 but he needs rattling fast ground to be seen at his best so won't want any rain or overnight watering taking place.
Didn't need to improve to get back on the scoresheet for the first time since 2015 at Chelmsford two starts back but wasn't able to back that effort up at Windsor last time. Jockey booking an obvious positive but he needs first-time blinkers to eek out some improvement.
Group 2 winner back in 2015 and won a Group 3 at Chester last year. Struggled in a couple of Listed contests this time around but mark has dropped as a result and he could be on a very lenient mark if he returns to form. First-time blinkers applied.
Very promising start to his career but not won since 2014. Gives the impression he could still be well-handicapped but this hold up performer needs everything to drop right and this draw perhaps not ideal on Thursday/Friday's evidence.
Group 3 winner over C&D back in 2015 but not won since. Returned to form last time out when narrowly defeated at Newmarket and he's on a lenient mark judged on his old form. Should go well.
Back-to-back winner of handicaps at Goodwood and York last year but he's probably not quite as effective over this trip and he's never scored off a mark this high.
Winner of this contest last year but not been in the same form since. Only 4lb higher as a result but different ground this time around and likely to struggle in his follow up bid.
Lost his way a little in recent times and tailed off at York last time. Very well-handicapped on old form having placed in Group 1 company not all that long ago but well-being is taken on trust after several disappointing efforts.
Won on debut here but has tended to save his best form for Meydan since. Went close several times at that course this winter and can't be ruled out on what will be similar ground on a straight 6f and a fair looking handicap mark.
Winner of a Listed contest at the Curragh when last seen but 10lb hike in the weights for that looks harsh having finished just a length in front of a horse rated 97. Would want softer ground to be of any interest.
Has shaped like he has a race like this in him on several occasions now but he's been frustrating to follow since and failed to justify favouritism for the third time in a row on his most recent start. Could be accused of not quite going through with his effort and this draw doesn't look as good as it did earlier in the week.
Best effort came on softer ground but has run well on good to firm before and went well over this trip for his previous yard. Tudhope prefers Out Do.
Won a Listed event at Newmarket in 2015 and has run well on three starts for this yard at Meydan. Losing run starting to mount up now though and looks in need of relief from the handicapper.
Won just one of his previous 27 starts and his best efforts have come with cut in the ground. Jockey booking a positive but others arrive with stronger claims on better marks.
Two-time C&D winner who may not be finished improving just yet. More consistent than most in here and solid place claims at the very least.
High class two-year-old but very disappointing since and he's finished unplaced on his last seven starts, tenth of 14 when last seen at Meydan. Handicap mark hardly looks generous and he's not a straightfoward colt, so he is probably best watched on return to UK.
Has struggled off his revised mark since winning a handicap at York back in 2015 but handicapper is refusing to relent and he would probably prefer some cut in the ground.
Victorious at the highest level in 2014 but failed to win in six starts last season for his new yard and not enough promise in his comeback at the Curragh to be of interest here.
Progressive sort who has been unlucky not to have got his head in front in three outings this season. Looks up to scoring off this mark imminently and first-time visor may eek out a little more improvement. Interesting runner with the Champion Jockey booked.
Last couple of wins have come on the AW but seems just as effective on turf and not beaten all the far last time at Haydock. Needs to come on for that run and this is obviously a deeper contest.
Losing run is increasing but best recent run came on last run in this grade. Showed a bit more at Newmarket in a trial for this and a further drop in the weights makes him one to note. Stable jockey's pick of their three runners.
Very useful on his day but step back up in trip doesn't look to be what he needs and this draw has proved difficult to over come on the last couple of days of racing. Others arrive better handicapped.
Ran well in a Listed contest on return to action but well beaten on a couple of subsequent starts and no suggestion he's well handicapped at all.
Non-Runners
5
(25)
Donjuan Triumphant56
Weight: 9-6| Age: 4
T: A M Balding J: David Probert
NR
27
(3)
Culturati14
Weight: 8-13| Age: 4
T: C Appleby J: Non Runner
NR
Forecasts
Raucous (11/2), Culturati (6/1), Projection (15/2), Normandy Barriere (9/1), Outback Traveller (9/1), Edward Lewis (14/1), Eastern Impact (14/1), Amazour (14/1), Muntadab (14/1), Steady Pace (16/1), Danzeno (16/1), Certificate (16/1), Squats (20/1), Buckstay (20/1), Out Do (25/1), Harry Hurricane (25/1), Birchwood (25/1), G Force (25/1), Intisaab (25/1), Donjuan Triumphant (25/1), Polybius (33/1), Lancelot Du Lac (33/1), Duke Of Firenze (33/1), Boom The Groom (33/1), Poyle Vinnie (50/1), First Selection (50/1), Captain Colby (50/1), Shanghai Glory (50/1), George Dryden (66/1)
A typically competitive renewal of this race and it's the two Richard Fahey runners that look most interesting. EASTERN IMPACT shaped like he was returning to form last time out and he won a Group 3 over course and distance back in 2015, if he can build on his most recent run he could prove well-handicapped. Brichwood also has Group form in the book and he could run well if the first-time blinkers have the desired effect. Squats gives the impression he has one in him off this sort of mark while Muntadab is another who is reliant on first-time headgear doing the trick.
- Eastern Impact
- Birchwood
- Squats
Prize Money
1st: £108,938.002nd: £32,620.003rd: £16,310.004th: £8,155.005th: £4,078.006th: £2,048.00
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