Wokingham Stakes - Royal Ascot 2017

Published on: 24/06/2017

Wokingham Stakes - Royal Ascot 2017

June 24, 2016 17:00pm - Ascot, Berkshire

Royal Ascot 2017

Category: Handicap 1, Class 1

Distance: 6f

Going: Good to firm

Runners: 28

Winner: £108,938.00

The Wokingham Stakes is a handicap race open to horses aged three years and over. It is run over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres). The event was first established in 1913 and is named after the market town of Wokingham.

With a competitive-looking line-up, this race could once again be a tough one to call. Richard Fahey enjoyed success here with Baccarat in 2014 and has two solid runners this time round. Eastern Impact hinted at a return to form last time out and has course and distance form at Group 3 level. Any improvement on his most recent outing should see him do well off his handicap here.

Birchwood also has form to suggest that he could go well here, with Group 2 and 3 wins under his belt and the addition of blinkers could boost those claims further. He struggled a little in Listed company recently but that has been accounted for in the mark.

One horse that also attracts the eye is Squats. It all went wrong for him in the Victoria Cup with a poor draw and the subsequent race not playing out as expected. He could put all that behind him here on a track that has agreed with him in the past. He has been a regular 7f runner in recent times so the drop in distance could also bring him into contention.

Betting odds and tips

Of the two Fahey entries, Eastern Impact gets the nod while Squats also looks a decent each-way pick.

You can back Eastern Impact at a price of 16/1 with Bet365, while Squats can be backed at 22/1.

Remember, Bet365 are offering guaranteed best odds on all Royal Ascot races and a 100% deposit bonus up to £200 for new accounts.

Wokingham Stakes - Last three years:

2014: Baccarat - George Chaloner (Richard Fahey)

2015: Interception - George Baker (David Lanigan)

2016: Outback Traveller - Martin Harley (Robert Cowell)

By Neil Morris

Published on: 24/06/2017

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (24/06/2017 14:41:04) but are subject to change.