17:35 Ascot
Good To FirmWolferton Stakes (Listed Race)
- First Prize: £70887.5
- 1m 1f 212y
- Class 1
- 16 runners
ITV
Runners: 16 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
Form: 8270-3
OR: 108
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Second in the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris for Aidan O'Brien in 2023; failed to match that level in Australia until finishing a nose second in 1m2f Group 3 at Randwick last September; down the field in the Caulfield Cup on his final start there but resumed his European career with a pleasing staying-on third to Minnie Hauk in 1m2f Curragh Group 2 (good) six weeks ago; raced largely on good or softer on turf (below form in 2023 Derby on good to firm); his yard has had three placed in this since 2021.
Form: 25223-
OR: 114
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
No win since the 2024 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket but runner-up in Listed race at Goodwood (1m2f, good to soft; beaten a neck) and Group 3 at Newbury (1m4f, soft) last autumn; below-form 5l third in 1m4f Kempton Listed race (AW debut) in December when last seen; wears first-time cheekpieces; Buick seemingly prefers Arabian Light.
Form: 05-124 D
OR: 111
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Won handicap at Meydan (1m2f, good) in January and very close second in Group 3 there (1m2f, good) later that month; returned to Britain with a creditable fourth (Wimbledon Hawkeye fifth) of six to Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown (1m2f, good) 19 days ago; Buick is on him rather than Ancient Wisdom; likely to be on the premises.
Form: -31125 D
OR: 111
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Had a very productive spell at Meydan earlier in the year, winning two handicaps before progressing again when second to Quddwah in Group 2 Singspiel and fifth to Ombudsman in Group 1 Dubai Turf (both 1m1f, good); those efforts suggest he can make his presence felt in Listed races back in Britain but this is a particularly strong one.
Form: /543-3 D
OR: 108
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 6 yo Colt
Best effort in a truncated 2025 campaign when fourth to Haatem in this race (good to firm); showed enough to think he retains all his ability when third in 1m2f Goodwood Listed race (good) on reappearance 25 days ago; could reach the frame in this again.
Form: 3324-0 D
OR: 114
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Consistent performer who chased home Haatem in this on good to firm last year; ended 2025 with solid efforts in Bahrain and Hong Kong and it's probably worth forgiving him a rare off-day in Saudi Arabia in February; capable of making a bold bid in this again assuming stall 15 isn't too troublesome.
Form: /41-12 D
OR: 108
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
Won a Grade 3 hurdle at Tipperary (good to yielding) last October and progressive form on AW since reverting to the Flat for this yard, posting two easy wins at Dundalk (1m4f/10.6f) before excellent second in 1m2f Newcastle handicap on Good Friday; not that far off on form but quickish ground would be an unknown (raced only on good or softer on turf).
Form: 5/463- C
OR: 116
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Sold on the eve of this meeting last year for £2,000,000 and finished a creditable third to Rebel's Romance and Al Riffa in the Group 2 Hardwicke (1m4f, good to firm) a few days later; withdrawn after rearing over being saddled up on an intended start at last year's Newmarket July meeting; subsequently left Clive Cox and hasn't been seen since.
OUR TIP
Form: 4136-7 CD
OR: 112
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Landed a second win at this meeting when seeing off Galen, King's Gambit and Enfjaar in this race on good to firm 12 months ago; below-par seventh on 1m2f Goodwood reappearance 25 days ago but this has presumably been the target again; the mount of James Doyle from the three Wathnan runners.
Form: 352-29 D
OR: 109
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
No wins since landing two of his first four starts but has a largely consistent record in Listed/Group company since, including third to Haatem and Galen in this race on good to firm 12 months ago; again ran well when chasing home Damysus in Group 3 at Newmarket (1m1f, good) on reappearance in April; a subsequent Chester run was disappointing but his record suggests he's unlikely to stay down for long.
Form: 427-35 D
OR: 113
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed over 1m2f at Longchamp last year (also fourth in Prince Of Wales's over C&D) but he ended 2025 on a low note and has been below par in two outings over 1m4f at Longchamp this spring, markedly so last time; big shout if back to his best in first-time cheekpieces but James Doyle sticks with Haatem.
Form: 1113- D
OR: 110
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Unraced at two; rapidly developed into a smart performer last year, making it 3-3 when just coming out on top in the Listed Glasgow at Hamilton (1m3f) in July; lost unbeaten when third in 1m2f Longchamp Group 3 in the autumn but the two ahead of him were Croix Du Nord and Daryz and it was another slight step forward in terms of RPRs; raced only on good/very soft on turf; a surprise if there isn't more to come from him in 2026.
Form: 608-42 D
OR: 114
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 5 yo Mare
Versatile as regards ground; smart on his day and enhanced his good Epsom record when only narrowly denied a second successive win the Group 3 Diomed (8.5f, good to soft) 11 days ago; Listed winner over this trip on good to firm in 2024; good chance on the Epsom form but stall 16 isn't ideal.
Form: /35-65 D
OR: 113
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 6 yo Colt
Did well initially in his career, including when beating his three rivals in the 2024 Brigadier Gerard at Sandown (1m2f, soft); 0-9 since, albeit twice placed at the highest level; pulled too hard when beaten about 6l into sixth of 12 on return in a Group 3 at the Curragh (1m2f, soft) in April; never featured at Chester in a Group 2 on good since; good to firm ground is a worry.
Form: 2210-5
OR: 115
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Admirably consistent in defeat in Group races last year before winning the Grade 3 Nashville Derby at Kentucky (10.5f, firm) in August; well beaten in the Breeders' Cup Turf on final 2025 start but offered enough to think he retains all his ability when fifth of six to Ombudsman in Brigadier Gerard at Sandown (1m2f, good) on reappearance 19 days ago; considered.
Form: 0-1343 D
OR: 111
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Ex-French mare who has several pieces of Group 1 form over middle distances, including in Saudi Arabia for this yard in February; however, she's been well below par in her two outings back in Britain this spring, albeit with 1m on AW too sharp for her on the first occasion.
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Betting Forecast
20/1 Adelaide River, 12/1 Ancient Wisdom, 11/1 Arabian Light, 20/1 Dividend, 12/1 Enfjaar, 11/1 Galen, 20/1 Gaucher, 10/1 Ghostwriter, 9/2 Haatem, 14/1 Kings Gambit, 12/1 Map Of Stars, 7/1 Nahraan, 14/1 Persica, 16/1 Royal Rhyme, 8/1 Wimbledon Hawkeye, 12/1 Survie
Verdict
A host with chances in a typically wide-open renewal. Last year’s winner HAATEM has presumably been primed for this again and he’s preferred to Arabian Light (second choice) and Wimbledon Hawkeye, who ran encouraging trials in the Brigadier Gerard. This is a slightly belated reappearance for Nahraan, and firmish ground would be something new to him, but the only horses to have beaten him are Japanese star Croix Du Nord and Arc hero Daryz. French raider Map Of Stars would be a threat to all if first-time cheekpieces spark a return to form. [Andrew Sheret]