17:00 Ascot
Good To FirmWokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
- First Prize: £90195
- 0m 6f 0y
- Class 2
- 31 runners
ITV
Runners: 31 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Form: 7638-2 D
OR: 108
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Often leads; showed high-class form on good to firm ground last summer, runner-up in the Group 3 Jersey (7f) at this meeting, then involved in a tight finish for third place in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket (6f) despite racing away from the main action for much of the way; had some excuses later but he was back on track when a close second in a 6f Listed race at Salisbury recently; can go well from rail draw.
Form: 3-123
OR: 107
W: 9st 11lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Has had just four runs, winning a 7f AW maiden at Dundalk on second start; looked up against it in a 6f Listed race at Salisbury (good; first run without a hood) in May for new yard, but he gave a spirited show, taking a strong hold early and suffering serious interference before running on strongly to take a late close third, just behind Spy Chief; this strong pace can suit on handicap debut; intriguing.
Form: 967120 D
OR: 105
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
These big-field 6f handicaps suit him down to the ground, and having finished fourth in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood (good to soft) and the Portland at Doncaster (extended 5f, good) he led home 24 rivals in the Ayr Gold Cup (soft) last September; mostly in good form at Meydan this year but he's 10lb higher than at Ayr which is a big burden to carry.
Form: 320-11 D
OR: 105
W: 9st 9lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
The talking horse in good 6f handicaps this spring, coming clear with no fuss under Oisin Murphy at Newmarket (good) on yard debut and not having to work much harder under a penalty there (good to firm) in May for Shane Foley; 10lb higher than last time but he could be on his way to better things.
Form: 70/2-0 D
OR: 104
W: 9st 8lb
Age: 7 yo Colt
Classy in his prime when winning a Group 2 at the Curragh (6f, good; acts on good to firm) in May 2024; only intermittently raced since owing to physical issues and his latest comeback, at Doncaster in March, ended badly; however, he's had a second wind surgery since and is now tongue tied so judgement suspended with his trainer bullish ahead of this first handicap run.
Form: 2361-2 DBF
OR: 104
W: 9st 8lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Respectable C&D form last September when third of 19 but he's been at his most impressive on flatter tracks so far, as when crushing his rivals at Ayr (good to soft) and York (good) as a 3yo; returned to action with a mighty effort on the latter track in May, when only just failing to reel in a well-treated front-runner; major chance if reproducing the form back here, despite going up 5lb since, as his star is still rising.
Form: 5-1200 CD
OR: 103
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Outstripped his previous form when winning a valuable 7f handicap here (good; effective on good to firm) last July before winning the 6f Stewards' Cup (good to soft) by a healthy margin under a penalty next time; shade vulnerable once reassessed and a narrow win at Meydan in January wasn't enough to think he's well treated for this race; extra push needed.
Form: -31247 D
OR: 103
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Took a step forward on the AW earlier in the year, at 7f and 6f, but he didn't make his turf debut until never involved in a Listed race at Haydock (7f, good) in May; comes from a line of superb turf sprinters but this is a difficult first handicap on grass, to put it mildly.
Form: -30712 D
OR: 102
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Improved as 4yo, narrowly winning the most recent of five starts in Bahrain (6f) and returning to Britain with a somewhat luckless close second at Chester (5f, good) in May to a stablemate; up a total of 10lb for those runs, though, and has much more to prove in this contest.
Form: 71-045 D
OR: 102
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
A strike-rate of 4-7 on AW includes two Listed wins at 7f and 6f; not quite so good on grass as yet but he has a 7lb lower turf mark and indicated he could make it pay when an excellent fifth in the big-field Victoria Cup over 7f here (good; has won on good to firm) in May, not ideally positioned there as it turned out; one to consider back at 6f.
Form: 37/4-4 C
OR: 101
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Sterling effort to win the Group 2 Queen Mary (5f, good to firm) at this meeting as a 2yo, then ran to a similar level in another Group 2 at York (6f); useful efforts in 5f Listed races in just two runs as a 3yo and 4yo (tongue tied latest; had wind surgery since) but the suitability of this test has to be proved.
Form: 2056-0 D
OR: 101
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Up-and-coming handicapper last summer when winning first two starts at this level before finishing an excellent second of 24 in the 5f handicap here (good to firm) last June; first home of the 3yos when fifth in the Ayr Gold Cup (soft) last September and may do better this year; not ruled out now fitted with a tongue-tie on second run back.
Form: 01-830 D
OR: 100
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Useful 2yo sprinter; successful when sights lowered at Yarmouth last September and his third in a 6f Listed race at Doncaster (good to soft) in March was his best form so far; good to firm ground given as an excuse for a weak effort at Haydock in April though, which doesn't augur well on today's surface.
Form: 870180 D
OR: 100
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
Has won in Bahrain but all eight British wins have come at Chester and he's been soundly beaten in the last two runnings of this race (100-1 each time); has been wearing cheekpieces, visor refitted.
Form: 2310-6 D
OR: 100
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Hooded all starts for this yard; can lead; has had just three runs in 6f handicaps, improving on a respectable effort in the Shergar Cup here when a ready winner at Goodwood (good to firm) last August; not so good on soft ground in the Ayr Gold Cup after and, while he is likely to do better as a 4yo, he was well held in Listed company on his comeback.
Form: -22631 D
OR: 95
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Exotic career includes races in the US, Britain, Ireland and on snow for various yards, but he comes here in fine form over 6f for this one, having finished close up at York (good; under 2l behind runner-up Binhareer) before winning at Thirsk; 1lb badly in under a penalty and has a harder task.
Form: 101-11 D
OR: 99
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Three of his last four wins have come at Goodwood (6f; heavy and good ground); probably not too track dependent as he won at Newbury in May but he has more to find on his first run at Ascot, off another career-high mark in a daunting race.
Form: -48802 D
OR: 99
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
All races over 7f until running a screamer in a close third of 28 (good to firm) in this race last year; ready winner of his next 6f start, on the AW last October; has had some trip and aids switches for new yard but looked back on a better path when a staying-on close second in a 5f Carlisle Listed race (first-time cheekpieces replaced regular tongue-tie) last time; 3lb well in and has a big run in him back over C&D.
Form: 4-1100 D
OR: 98
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Best form when dead-heating for 6f Listed AW race in January, making it 2-2 for Ryan Moore; no serious inroads back on turf since, in a Group 3 and the 7f Victoria Cup on this course, but he did come from off the pace to finish a close fifth of 28 in this race (good to firm) last year and he shouldn't be overlooked back over C&D in first-time cheekpieces.
Form: 514-60 D
OR: 98
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Back on song when convincing winner of a 6f Listed event at Naas (yielding) last October; unable to get involved in two runs at that level in 2026 but he was badly checked back at Naas in April and in better form than the 5l defeat suggests; however, he has more to prove back on this track with good to firm ground quicker than ideal; regular cheekpieces discarded.
Form: 00416- D
OR: 98
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
All wins over 6f (on soft and good ground) in the autumn months; excelled himself when winning the Ayr Silver Cup (soft) last September but it seems unlikely he will reproduce that form on this belated return.
Form: -11770 D
OR: 97
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Won two AW races over 6f in early spring but he's had shortcomings in turf handicaps off marks in the 90s before and since, including over C&D, and looks to have his share of weight.
Form: 082939 CD
OR: 97
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 8 yo Gelding
Has run in three of the last four runnings, doing best when runner-up in 2023 (good to firm; also won a Group 3 over C&D on soft); has been a fine stalwart in other top sprint handicaps, including when just losing out in the 2024 Portland at Doncaster on sole attempt for Christophe Soumillon; hard to ignore one with his history at this level.
Form: /10-12 D
OR: 97
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Missed over a year of his career but returned to action with two 6f AW wins, last October and in April; well beaten on heavy in between but fared better at Goodwood (6f, good) in May when going down narrowly to Far Above Dream; has potential but others have more solid form; cheekpieces on.
OUR TIP
Form: 017-91 D
OR: 92
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Made favourite but lacked experience when tackling the 5f handicap here last June; better form when winning at Haydock (6f, good to soft) last September and, after a low-key reappearance at Newmarket, he impressed when winning at Carlisle (6f, good to firm; first-time cheekpieces) recently; 1lb well in under a penalty; looks a smart prospect.
Form: 5-5631 D
OR: 92
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Listed winner in France; mostly rather vulnerable in handicaps for this yard, including over C&D in May, but he didn't get much of a run behind Fandom at Thirsk (good) next time and confirmed he was on the way back when leading near the line at Goodwood (also 6f, soft) two weeks ago; has quite a bit more to do under a penalty (3lb badly in).
Form: 723-01 CD
OR: 92
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
C&D winner on good to firm last May; high-class handicap form when runner-up in the Ayr Silver Cup (6f, soft) last September when first home on his side, which wasn't the first time he's had a difficult track position; carries a penalty for recent Epsom win (6f, soft; his second in that race) but no surprise if he does better again as a 5yo; respected.
Form: 210-04 DBF
OR: 96
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Useful form at a less competitive level in 2025, following 6f wins last June with one in a valuable York race (extended 5f, good to firm) later; kept on well after being slightly checked in his run at Windsor in May but he has more to prove over this stiff 6f on course debut.
Form: /030-7 D
OR: 96
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Reserve; won 6f Group 2 at Goodwood (good to firm) as a 2yo; sparingly raced with mixed results since and has plenty to prove after a low-key Listed run on reappearance at Naas (5f); no aids latest; has worn blinkers, first-time cheekpieces today.
Form: 7-1115 D
OR: 96
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Reserve; front-runs; superb 4-5 strike-rate on AW but his turf form isn't up to the same level, albeit soft ground wouldn't have been ideal when fifth of 15 behind Sondad at Epsom recently; up against it.
Form: U52P28 D
OR: 95
W: 8st 13lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Reserve; versatile trip-wise and although most of his best form is on the AW he was only just foiled in a competitive 5f race at York (good) in May; this is altogether more difficult; due to run in the 7f Buckingham Palace on Thursday.
Terms and conditions
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Betting Forecast
12/1 Spy Chief, 22/1 Soldiers Tree, 40/1 Run Boy Run, 9/2 Double Rush, 50/1 Mitbaahy, 7/2 Binhareer, 25/1 Two Tribes, 50/1 Heathcliff, 40/1 Dubai Bling, 18/1 Royal Zabeel, 28/1 Leovanni, 25/1 Hammer The Hammer, 40/1 Caburn, 80/1 Roman Dragon, 40/1 Flash Harry, 14/1 Fandom, 14/1 Far Above Dream, 12/1 Ten Pounds, 12/1 Completely Random, 66/1 Thunderbear, 25/1 Candy, 33/1 Fast Track Harry, 33/1 Apollo One, 25/1 Evening Saigon, 9/1 Realign, 25/1 Toyotomi, 14/1 Sondad, 33/1 Trefor, 50/1 Black Forza, 50/1 Gold Star Hero, 33/1 Stratusnine
Verdict
Another tremendous race in store for this top handicap. Binhareer has headed the market for some time but he has been most impressive visually on flat tracks and it remains to be seen whether he can reproduce that sparkle back over this searching 6f. Stablemate REALIGN has hit form at the right time and he was impressive when coming clear of his rivals very quickly at Carlisle. Double Rush has gone up the weights for his two Newmarket wins in the spring but he was in no way hard pressed in either of them and he can be the main danger ahead of Ten Pounds. The latter’s third in this race last year, on his first 6f run, deserves the highest praise and after a return to form at Carlisle recently, he is poised to give a very good account. Sondad and Royal Zabeel also make some appeal among the low draws.[Emily Weber]
Selections
TOPSPEED:
Ten Pounds