16:10 Royal Ascot

Saturday 20 June 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Wokingham Stakes (Handicap)

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 1m 13.49s

(12)

Danzeno²⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: B A Curtis| T: M Appleby| OR: 106| C| D

25/1

Smart handicapper on his day although he's older than the usual age profile for this race. Dual winner last year 5f/6f (also 5f winner here), will do well to win off a mark this high up against some improving types, has gone well when fresh before.

Form: 134233-

(11)

Tinto¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Marco Ghiani⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 105| CD

16/1

Three-time sprint winner last year including over C&D (off a 9lb lower mark), not disgraced after those wins when tried in Group 3/Listed company. Sharer than his SP (40-1) suggested for latest win over 6f at Newmarket, tough ask off this mark.

Form: 162-661

(23)

Angel Alexander¹⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 105| D

14/1

Four-time winner as a 3yo winning the Ayr Gold Cup off a 4lb lower mark (smart performance). Made little impact at Meydan earlier this year over 5f/6f in a handicap and two Group races; needs a career-best off this mark, others appeal more.

Form: 312-566

(8)

Mr Lupton¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 104| D

28/1

Smart sprinter, last three wins have come in Listed/Group company; proved better than ever when taking a Curragh Group 2 (6f, good/firm) last May. Failed to win again (highly-tried) last year, reasonable return in 6f Group 3, this looks a tough ask.

Form: 66090-4

(20)

Gulliver^p,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: D O'Meara| OR: 102| D

12/1

Won two competitive York 6f handicaps last year; bettered those performances on first 2020 run off a 2lb higher mark when winning well at Southwell (gave away over a stone). Below form since including when behind Tinto at Newmarket last time.

Form: 31-1468

(9)

Dazzling Dan¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: M Harley| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 101| D

28/1

Smart sort who took two 6f Newmarket handicaps last year versus his own age group (Tinto behind on both occasions). Not disgraced afterwards, may well have needed the run on reappearance behind his old rival, should benefit from that outing.

Form: 63104-9

(14)

Summerghand¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: D O'Meara| OR: 101| D

15/2

Consistent and useful sprint handicapper, gained reward for 2019 efforts when winning AW conditions event at Wolverhampton in December. Fair form since at Meydan, did best of those held up behind Tinto (6f) last time, needs some luck in-running.

Form: 1-44682

(3)

Bielsa²³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: K A Ryan| OR: 101| D

5/1

Lightly-raced 5yo; won 4-5 (only flop in Portland Handicap), all wins at 6f. Soon back on track after only blip with a Doncaster win on testing ground, looks one for top-end sprint handicaps this year (has potential), 9lb higher than his last win.

Form: 1/1101-

(18)

Soldier's Minute^h¹⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 100| D

50/1

Back to the form that saw him win easily at York (6f) in the spring, when scoring by ½L on AW at Kempton (6f) in October. Solid placed efforts after that on AW, returns from an absence, capable of some smart form when on song, mark looks tough now.

Form: 7133-42

(5)

Recon Mission¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A W Carroll| OR: 100| D

33/1

Progressed with every run (bar one blip) in top-class sprint handicaps since joining this stable when landing a speed-favouring 6f handicap at York. Largely struggled since then off higher marks including when fifth behind Tinto last time.

Form: 10400-6

(7)

Arecibo^v¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| D

25/1

Good efforts for the most part in top-quality sprint handicaps last year, runner-up four times, only win came at Ayr (5f, good/firm) off 9lb lower. Below form in Group 3 Palace House over 5f on return, capable of better, has won at 6f in France.

Form: 24820-8

(21)

Air Raid²⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 99| D

25/1

Took three 6f handicap last year all at Hamilton showing improved form; found wanting (below-par) in two big-field 6f high-end handicaps after those victories. Gets a slight ease in the weights, has own fresh, needs to bounce back to get involved.

Form: 110100-

(10)

Hey Jonesy^b1⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 99| D

18/1

Looks the lesser of this yards two runners having become unreliable; comes into this carrying an unenviable 17 losing streak. Poor effort here in the opening race of the meeting over 7f, still looked quirky, one to treat with caution back at 6f.

Form: 92000-0

(6)

Silent Echo¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: P Hedger| OR: 99| D

22/1

Low-mileage for his age, confirmed the promise shown in his AW runs over the winter with a narrow success in a good-class 6f handicap at Newmarket on return. Will need to progress again from that career-best effort up 4lb, not dismissed though.

Form: 2/933-21

(19)

Spanish City²⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 98| D

16/1

Returned to winning ways back in calmer waters at Yarmouth (7f, good/firm) in August (run well in competitive 6f/7f events prior to that). Ran with great credit to end the season (fifth here over 7f), won twice fresh, yard in-form, much respected.

Form: 340152-

(13)

No Nonsense³⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 98| D

50/1

Not seen since running poorly in the 7f Group 3 Jersey Stakes here just over a year ago having only ever won twice on the AW (6f both times). Lightly-raced, makes his handicap debut in top-class company, return to 6f may well be a blessing.

Form: 1/16250-

(22)

Lethal Lunch^t1¹⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 98| BF| CD

18/1

C&D winner (tongue-tie on first-time); won pair of 7f handicaps on AW late last summer, ended season with a good second again at Kempton. Looks on a fair mark but does need to prove that he's as effective back on turf, plus all wins have come at 7f.

Form: 419102-

(17)

Highland Dress¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Adam J McNamara| T: A Watson| OR: 97| D

7/1

Made an immediate impact for this yard since arriving from Ireland winning twice over 6f (AW/turf). Progressed again last time (added to positive profile) when travelling well to score at Newmarket (6f), open to more progress, interesting prospect.

Form: 135-211

(4)

Stone Of Destiny¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 97| C| D

28/1

Took advantage of an ease in the weights to get back on track over 5f here in August off this same mark. Below-par after that before bouncing back last time off a break returned to 5f (started poorly, left badly positioned), on a workable mark.

Form: 81080-4

(16)

Konchek^t²⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: H Crouch| T: C G Cox| OR: 96

40/1

Second runner from this yard who comes into this on the back of a losing sequence that is beginning to build. Modest efforts for the most part last year off the back of wind surgery, ran very poorly when last seen at Doncaster in September.

Form: 6/30840-

(1)

Jack's Point⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: M Dwyer| T: W R Muir| OR: 96

10/1

Winner from out of the blue back on turf after six months off at Newmarket over 7f (took advantage of draw/track position, made all). Again, probably had events all his own way over 7f here earlier in the week, unlikely to be as advantaged this time.

Form: 5308-12

(24)

Teruntum Star^p⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 96| D

100/1

Enjoyed a return to 6f when resuming winning ways on his final 2019 start at Newbury in testing conditions (nicely handicapped). Shaped as though he needed the run on his return at Doncaster, better expected but faces a stiff task at his age.

Form: 70351-0

Non-Runners

(2)

Mubakker¹⁸

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: Sir Michael Stoute J: Non Runner

(15)

Bella Fever¹¹²

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Bielsa (5/1), Mubakker (13/2), Highland Dress (7/1), Summerghand (15/2), Jack's Point (10/1), Gulliver (12/1), Angel Alexander (14/1), Spanish City (16/1), Tinto (16/1), Hey Jonesy (18/1), Lethal Lunch (18/1), Bella Fever (20/1), Silent Echo (22/1), Danzeno (25/1), Arecibo (25/1), Air Raid (25/1), Stone Of Destiny (28/1), Mr Lupton (28/1), Dazzling Dan (28/1), Recon Mission (33/1), Konchek (40/1), Soldier's Minute (50/1), No Nonsense (50/1), Teruntum Star (100/1)

One of the most complex events of the week to unravel, where, much of the focus will be on the progressive Bielsa. His upwardly mobile profile demands the greatest respect (up 9lb from his last win) to a career-high mark he’s looking at Group company if he can win this. Trainer David O’Meara is triple-handed with the best of his trio looking to be the consistent Summerghand, he’s weighted to reverse Newmarket form with Tinto and looks a danger. Silent Echo (on the up) and Spanish City (runs well here) from last year’s winning and in-form stable are of interest but the suggestion is Newmarket winner and hat-trick seeking HIGHLAND DRESS to gain his biggest success, he’s improving race-by-race.