Wolferton Handicap report: Tim Easterby's Snoano pounces for victory

1505 Royal Ascot - Wolferton Handicap result

1st Snoano 25/1
2nd Majeed 25/1
3rd Kidmenever 6/1
4th Maverick Wave 20/1

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Report

Yorkshire challenger Snoano was a 25/1 winner of the Wolferton Handicap.

Tim Easterby's charge made a successful start to the campaign at Pontefract in April, but had since finished down the field in the Huxley Stakes at Chester and a handicap at Ripon.

In a rough race, the five-year-old travelled well in the middle of the pack before a gap opened up in front of him racing inside the final two furlongs.

Snoano showed a smart turn of foot to take it and although Majeed was making ground quickly as the line approached, David Allan's mount held on.

Kidmenever and Maverick Wave finished third and fourth respectively.

Well-backed favourite Khairaat was disappointing.

Reaction

David Allan: "Didn't he travel well? I had a few traffic problems, but a little gap came and he was really brave and really stuck his neck out to go through.

"He's surprised us a bit as he actually likes the ground a bit softer.

"He's an absolute legend of a horse and has improved again this year.

"It's hard enough getting a good ride here, so to get a winner is a big achievement."

Winning owner Martyn Mcleod: "I am not sure where Tim is, he is probably at Redcar.

"It's absolutely fantastic, it really is. We ran him at Ripon and I know it was off the same mark, but he got a bit interfered with in that race and he was just stopped going forward in that race.

"Today when the gap came he was brave and went through it. He has not got early pace and they went fast and that suited him.

"I've got to be honest, I hoped a place would be possible. We managed to get some money on and it was more than a fiver!

"This was my first Royal Ascot runner so it's not a bad way to start really."

David Simcock, trainer of  Majeed: "They went very hard. He doesn't often get that and when he does he has just shown what he can do. He needed just a few more strides.

"He's run very well."

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Kidmenever: "Delighted. Without making excuses, William (Buick) felt he'd be better with juice in the ground.

"It was quick enough for him, but it was a good run after a break. Hopefully we'll have lots of fun with him during the course of the season. No targets as yet.

"We'll see how he comes out of it and look for a bit of cut in the ground."