The Wokingham Stakes is a race open to horses aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres).
The event is named after Wokingham, a market town several miles to the west of Ascot. It was established in 1813, and the inaugural running was won by Pointers, owned by the Duke of York. For many years the Wokingham Stakes was divided into two or three separate classes, but it became a single race in 1874.
Let’s check out the runners involved in the race and see which horses are providing the best Royal Ascot odds on the market.
Flaming Rib
Trainer: Hugo Palmer
Jockey: Pierre-Louis Jamin (3)
Has been running well in higher grades than this but is a specialist at this trip. This would still be a career-best performance if he were to win it off top weight. He is drawn fairly centred so will be up to his jockey to decide what group to split into. Acts on any ground and shouldn’t be too far away despite what his recent form looks like.
King’s Lynn
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Harry Davies (3)
Dropped back into handicap company at Chester last time and put up a much better performance over the minimum trip of five furlongs. He has his fair share of weight here but Harry Davies can claim three pounds from him. This trip is not his specialist trip but you can never rule out a Balding runner in a race like this. Has a low draw to contend with and that could prove to be his downfall.
Chipstead
Trainer: Roger Teal
Jockey: Frederick Larson (3)
A five-furlong specialist more so than over this longer trip. He bounced back to form at York last time out getting the better of Mondammej. A four-pound higher mark also makes life more difficult for him and this could be a stretch.
Duca Di Como
Trainer: Catherine Erichsen
Jockey: Elione Chaves
Multiple winner of races in Scandinavia and has won as high as at listed level previously. Based on what information is available he definitely wants a longer trip. These rivals are top-notch sprinters and he could just be taken off his feet somewhat.
Tis Marvellous
Trainer: Clive Cox
Jockey: Kevin Stott
Absolutely loves it around here but is a five-furlong specialist. His seasonal reappearance at Newmarket saw him trail in last of the fourteen runners and much more would be required for him to repeat his run from this meeting four seasons ago where he finished second in this very race. Needs help from the handicapper.
Hurricane Ivor
Trainer: Jessie Harrington
Jockey: Tom Marquand
More known as a five-furlong sprinter and has won three times at that trip. Did manage to win over six furlongs at the Curragh on the bottomless ground a couple of months ago. The ground seems to be important to him and not sure he wants it quite this fast. Up in the weights and could well struggle.
Summerghand
Trainer: David O’Meara
Jockey: Adam Kirby
Was placed in this race back in 2020 and is an absolute specialist at this trip, He has been pretty much out in the wilderness this season though and he needs to find improvement from somewhere in order to trouble the best of these. The ground won’t be a problem and has a handy draw in stall 21. If he comes back to his best he is not without a chance but that is a big if.
Orazio
Trainer: Charlie Hills
Jockey: Will Buick
Warmed up for this with a win over the course and distance and now comes here in search of a quick-fire hat trick. He has only had a handful of runs and is clearly on an upward curve. Will Buick has won on him the last twice so their reunification here has to be noted. A step up in grade for this but clearly going the right way and a danger to all.
Fresh
Trainer: James Fanshawe
Jockey: Danny Tudhope
His two most recent wins have come over a furlong further than this. He seems to have struggled to recapture the best of his form this season and was beaten almost twenty lengths last time out. He is a three-time course winner though and is now below his last winning mark. Would need to see a little more sparkle from him before recommending it as a betting proposition.
Bielsa
Trainer: Kevin Ryan
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Has returned in great form this season finishing second on his seasonal reappearance at Redcar before getting the better of the re-opposing Lethal Levi at York in a similar handicap last time out. He ran in this before and finished second last back in 2020 but that was on his seasonal reappearance. He looks destined to go well here despite trying to win off a career-high mark.
Spirit Of Light
Trainer: Ian Williams
Jockey: Benoit De La Sayette
Still a maiden after ten starts and that is unlikely to change here. He ran appallingly just two days ago in the Buckingham Palace Stakes and was beaten a long way. That run was hard to forgive and best to look elsewhere.
Mums Tipple
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Mums Tipple is a previous course and distance winner and has plenty of experience on the ground as fast as this. It is a step down in grade for the Hannon representative who was last seen in a listed race at Haydock. Officially two pounds well in on his last winning mark and he could go well at a decent price.
Lethal Levi
Trainer: Karl Burke
Jockey: Clifford Lee
Has work to do in order to reverse the recent form with the re-opposing Bielsa. He is up four pounds for that most recent outing and may well struggle here off a career-high mark. He appears to be drawn in the luckiest stall of them all in ten though and if bettering the form of his latest run he will not be far away.
Saint Lawrence
Trainer: Archie Watson
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Has not won any race since August 2020 which is obviously a massive negative. He was beaten by almost a dozen lengths at Newmarket last time and needs desperately needs assistance from the handicapper. Despite the booking of Hollie Doyle, the pair look sure to struggle once more.
First Folio
Trainer: James Ferguson
Jockey: Taylor Fisher (5)
Is well suited to this trip and going but is another who has just found life a bit difficult recently. Is getting relief slowly but surely from the handicapper and is now just two pounds higher than for his last success at Yarmouth back in September. Others look to be in better form and looking like he will find a few too good once more.
Tabdeed
Trainer: Archie Watson
Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
Has not won any race since July 2020 and ran another lifeless race on what was his seasonal reappearance at Newmarket behind the re-opposing Probe last time out. Despite being six pounds well in on the best of his old form, he needs a miracle in order to get involved.
Albasheer
Trainer: Archie Watson
Jockey: Jamie Spencer
His sole win came over seven furlongs on what was his first-ever race. He has failed to repeat that success ever since and showed nothing when upped into listed company most recently at Salisbury. Much more is needed in order to trouble the judge.
Khanjar
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Jim Crowley
Khanjar is a previous course and distance winner who hinted at a return to form with a fair second on his last run at Hamilton where he found Edward Cornelius a length too good. He is only two pounds higher now than for his last win and he is proven on multiple occasions over this trip. First-time cheekpieces are now applied and regular pilot Jim Crowley is back in the saddle. Looks to have strong claims.
Tanmawwy
Trainer: Charlie Hills
Jockey: James McDonald
A six-furlong specialist who has won now four times at this trip. The ground is not an issue for him, but the recent form is a massive concern. His opening run of the campaign was fine as he bumped into a well-handicapped Bernardo O’Reilly. He has it all to do with reverse recent form with Probe and clouds hanging over him at present.
Apollo One
Trainer: Patrick Charalambous & James Clutterbuck
Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Has won at this trip previously and has put in two decent performances over it this season. He was a solid eighth in this last year but comes here in better form this time around. He could well go a few places better and live each-way claims.
Probe
Trainer: Jennie Candlish
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Two wins from a dozen starts but importantly both came over this six-furlong trip. Just a feeling he remains a little too high in the handicap so despite the assistance of Ryan Moore in the saddle he is overlooked on this occasion.
Dream Composer
Trainer: Harry Evans
Jockey: Dougie Costello
More renowned for being a five-furlong specialist than at this trip. He has maintained his form well this season but really needs to prove that he has the stamina to see out this trip on turf. The yard has only sent out two winners since mid-April so that is another concern.
Kape Moss
Trainer: Daniel Loughnane
Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Has been maintaining her form well of late but is slightly better at the minimum trip than this six furlongs. Despite finishing second in a listed race on her most recent start, she has been beaten off plenty of lower marks in the past. She looks as though she could struggle here.
Mr Wagyu
Trainer: John Quinn
Jockey: Jason Hart
He is as tough as old boots and is often seen participating in most of the top sprints. He was fourth to Rohaan in this race a couple of seasons ago and is now on a five-pound lower mark. That could bring him right into the equation and no surprise to see him put in a good performance here.
Princess Shabnam
Trainer: Sean Woods
Jockey: David Probert
Has struggled to capture the best of her form that she obtained last season and was most disappointing on her last start at Haydock racecourse in listed company. No doubt the drop in grade will help but the last time she raced here, she finished stone cold last in October. Lots for her to do in order to get anywhere near the main protagonists.
Juan Les Pins
Trainer: Michael Appleby
Jockey: Ali Rawlinson
Won four races on the bounce last season at Newbury, Nottingham and Doncaster. He had looked to be struggling earlier in the year but he came right back to form to win at Nottingham again last time out. This could be his time of year when he actually begins to thrive once again and he cannot be totally discounted given that the yard enjoyed a big race success here in the Windsor Castle Stakes earlier in the week.
Spangled Mac
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Neil Callan
This race may come a little quickly for him having put in the performance of his career to finish fourth to Witch Hunter in the Buckingham Palace Stakes just a couple of days ago. He is fairly useful at this trip and is set to race off an unchanged mark. If he lines up he has to be taken seriously.
Hierarchy
Trainer: Jamie Osborne
Jockey: Saffie Osborne
This is his first run for Jamie Osborne having left the yard of Hugo Palmer having become disappointing. The new yard could unleash a new lease of life but it really needs to. He looks well treated on the best of his old form and will not be lacking in assistance from the saddle from Saffie Osborne. His fitness has to be taken on trust and he may just need this today.
Wokingham Stakes Betting Tips
This is an absolutely wide-open renewal and many look to have some good chances. The horse I like in this most is Khanjar, who could well improve for the application of first-time cheekpieces. Jim Crowley knows him well and they look to be drawn well in stall 24. They hinted at a return to form at Hamilton last time and he looks nailed on for a good run.
Mr Wagyu can never be discounted in races such as this as he is particularly talented and won’t mind this ground. He is becoming dangerously well-handicapped and could well run another big race.
Bielsa is another who comes here in decent shape and has the assistance of Oisin Murphy in the saddle. The pair look to be well drawn and in granted luck in running they should be doing all of their best work in the closing stages.
1. Khanjar @ 11/1 e/w with Bet365 bonus code
2. Mr Wagyu @ 16/1 with Bet365
3. Bielsa @ 20/1 with Bet365
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
