Class 2 handicaps don’t get much richer than the Wokingham Stakes (Saturday June 24th), which has a £200,000 purse up for grabs this year! Our ante-post market is now live and even though this race is very-open, here are 3 horses that are already getting punters panting!…
Join RaceBets And Claim Your Welcome Bonus Now!Outback Traveller (IRE)
Age: 6 (Foaled April 6th, 2011)
Sex: Bay Gelding
Breeding: Bushranger (IRE) – Blue Holly (IRE) (Blues Traveller (IRE))
Trainer: R M H Cowell
Owner: Lordship Stud & Mrs J Morley
He’s the reigning-champion but without a win since then, although 6 wins from 24 still gives the Bushranger-sired gelding a remarkable strike-rate of 25%. He’s trailed-in last in 2 of 4 outings since then though and had no real excuses when 11th of 24, in the Victora Cup here in May. Remains strong in the market, however.
Fastnet Tempest (IRE)
Age: 4 (Foaled January 26th, 2013)
Sex: Bay Gelding
Breeding: Fastnet Rock (AUS) – Dame Blanche (IRE) (Be My Guest (USA))
Trainer: W J Haggas
Owner: O T I Racing & Partner
William Haggas’ charge has won 4 out of 10 races and finished 2nd on 3 occasions, so if you are looking to make an each-way bet then this 4-year-old is likely to catch your eye. Josephine Gordon steered him to the spoils, in the Victoria Cup and that win was followed-up with another at Chester. Don’t be surprised if the price on this one plummets!
Projection
Age: 4 (Foaled February 24th, 2013)
Sex: Bay Gelding
Breeding: Acclamation – Spotlight (Dr Fong (USA))
Trainer: R Charlton
Owner: The Royal Ascot Racing Club
Roger Charlton’s Acclamation-sired inmate won in decent company at Salisbury, but that was almost 2 years ago. He’s been as rare as hens’ teeth, since then, appearing only 4 times on the track but he wasn’t too far away in any of those races. Looked a touch rusty at Headquarters, on seasonal reappearance, but has the ability to go very close if Charlton has got him right.
As in most classy handicaps, every horse is in with some sort of chance and the likes of Culturati, Naggers, Gravity Flow, Eastern Impact and (another of Charlton’s lags) Yuften are also already getting nibbled at.
Race History
The Wokingham is over 200 years old, although it was separated into classes until 1874. No horse has won the race more than twice and no jockey has ridden more than 3 winners. Don’t be surprised if the saddler of this year’s champion is celebrating their first victory, as only 3 trainers in history have won the race 3 times and the last to do so was Paul Cole – Calibina (1977), Queen’s Pride (1980) and Bel Byou (1987).
The Wokingham gives lesser-known trainers the chance of getting themselves a Royal Ascot winner, which wins at a huge price. David Marnane was cock-a-hoop, when Dandy Boy (33/1) went first past the post in 2012.
Betting With RaceBets
We are already dusting-off our top-hats and tails, in preparation for Royal Ascot, here at RaceBets! You can already bet on most of the races, in our ante-post markets. Check-out the latest odds on the Queen’s Vase, the Gold Cup, the Hardwicke Stakes, the Jersey Stakes and many other Ascot encounters!
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