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The 2025 Wokingham (Handicap) Stakes

The Wokingham and Hunt Cup are among my favourite races of the season.

People on here probably realise by now that I am 'into' the big handicaps. I love trying to solve the puzzles.

Obviously luck will play a part on the day but it is by no means all down to luck.
 
Ian_Davies said:
Maurice is like a predatory striker in the six-yard box - he only needs a half chance! šŸ˜‚
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At primary school I had the reputation of being an out and out poacher but unfortunately for me there was a guy who was a better all-round player so he got to be the centre-forward and because my brother had been left-back the year before I was slotted into the same role and played there for the rest of my 'career' (bar two games for the alter boys team and one for Bordeaux University second XI).

Obviously I haven't lost the instinct...
 
I'm interested by Woodhay Wonder. She won four races on the bounce, at the end of her three year old career, and then starting off as a four year old. She's got form with all the right horses, including Aramram and More Thunder.

She was fourth at this meeting last year in the 5 furlong handicap which bodes well. The second horse Blue Storm is now rated 103, while the third home, No Half Measures franked the form in a listed event the other day, now rated 105. Woodhay Wonder was giving weight to the pair of them, so I reckon 98 is still a very fair mark, in terms of being able to improve upon it.

She also beat the Charlton horse, Completely Random, and by my calculations, based on the rise that horse has taken in the handicap, will be a full 10lb better off if they met again in just under two weeks. At the price of 25/1 I'm keen though happy to wait. She needs to prove she'll see out the six furlongs but I think there's every chance she can do.
 
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I've taken 66/1 Sant Lawrence. #40 on the list so should make the cut.

I've also taken it in a hugely speculative each-way (just to annoy Slim ;) ) double with Ancient Rome for the Hunt Cup.
 
Running up money for Maurice if the Arlington Million third cops in the Royal Hunt Cup!

That will make the Saturday (even more) interesting! šŸ˜‚
 
Slim said:
I wouldnā€™t be going out on a limb by saying that betting ante-post in a race like this is absolutely pointless. That said, Commanche Falls caught the eye at Hamilton midweek. He ran into one on a serious upward curve and might not have been all out, given the betting and the ride he got. Heā€™ll have some sort of chance, but heā€™s not exactly going to be much shorter on the day.
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I've had a bit of 33/1.
 
I'm slightly worried why Woodhay Wonder is being offered at about 50/1 on Betfair, although that could be for a very small amount, or they might know something I don't.

I mean, she is number 36 on the list, so will hopefully scrape in. Her record on good to firm reads 111143, so she'll relish the forecast conditions. Let's see what's confirmed tomorrow.
 
17:00 The Wokingham Stakes (Handicap)17/442, 68p
17/17 sent off 33/1 or shorter SP (bigger: 0/106,4p)
17/17 had 1-5 wins on turf (Flat-Turf) (did not: 0/101,9p)
17/17 had 1-10 runs in the class (did not: 0/171,24p)
17/17 had 0-2 class wins (3+ ; 0/66,6p)
16/17 ran over 6f or further last start (did not: 1/82,12p)
16/17 max distance had run in career 7-8f (was not: 1/139, 16p)
16/17 did not run Left Handed last start (did: 1/79,10p)
15/17 had run over further than 6f at least twice in career (had not:2/153, 26p)
15/17 aged 5 or younger (older: 2/176, 24p)
Track LTO: 17/17 ran at Ascot (x5), York (x3), Hayd (x3), Curragh (x2), Newm R (x2),Goodwood (x1) or Newm J (x1)Otherā—
Horse wore CP: 0/53,2pā—
Horse wore TT: 0/38,7pā—
5lb claimers: 0/24,0pā—
Horse ran on AW last start: 0/31,3pā—
Horse ran at Doncaster, Epsom, Windsor LTO: 0/77,4p
Trainersā— David Evans: 2/3,2p;....... W Haggas 2/9,3p;............. K Ryan 2/20,4pā—
X1: J Fanshawe, D Marnane, D Oā€™Meara, R Varian, D Lanigan, Miss A Perratt, BMeehan, A Watson, R Cowell, R Fahey


Racingtoprofit
 
5.00: Wokingham (Handicap) Stakes
Apollo One
Room Service
Valiant Force
Zoum Zoum
City House
Jarraaf
Korker
Purosangue
Symbol of Honour
Wiltshire
Shartash
Ten Pounds
Never So Brave
Get It
Game Run
Twilight Calls
Desert Cop
Orazio
Cover Up
Vadream
Aramram
We Never Stop
Roman Dragon
More Thunder
Golden Mind
Completely Random
Woodhay Wonder
Noble Truth
Germanic
Saint Lawrence
Jumby
Holkham Bay
Elmonjed
Toca Madera
Invictus Gold
Purest Time
Ramazan
Run Boy Run
Indian Run
Spangled Mac
Fresh
Sergeant Wilko
Adaay In Devon
Twilight Jet
Hammer The Hammer
Billyjoh
Woolhampton
Alzahir
Jubilee Walk
Jungle Drums
Columnist
Wodao
Miss Attitude
Dorney Lake
Two Tribes
Inishfallen
Fivethousandtoone
Eye of Dubai
Apotheosis
Aleezdancer
Sterling Knight
Dark Thirty
Durham Castle
Grand Traverse
Vantheman
Staincliff
Buccabay
Mehmar
Rousing Encore
Fahrenheit Seven
Cajetan
Photosynthesis
Apache Outlaw
Rohaan
Partisan Hero
Supreme King
Jesse Luc
-77 Confirmations-

Ante-Post Betting: https://www.oddschecker.com/royal-ascot/wokingham-stakes/winner
 
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The Fortune Teller said:
I'm interested by Woodhay Wonder. She won four races on the bounce, at the end of her three year old career, and then starting off as a four year old. She's got form with all the right horses, including Aramram and More Thunder.

She was fourth at this meeting last year in the 5 furlong handicap which bodes well. The second horse Blue Storm is now rated 103, while the third home, No Half Measures franked the form in a listed event the other day, now rated 105. Woodhay Wonder was giving weight to the pair of them, so I reckon 98 is still a very fair mark, in terms of being able to improve upon it.

She also beat the Charlton horse, Completely Random, and by my calculations, based on the rise that horse has taken in the handicap, will be a full 10lb better off if they met again in just under two weeks. At the price of 25/1 I'm keen though happy to wait. She needs to prove she'll see out the six furlongs but I think there's every chance she can do.
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I had an ante post bet on her recently at 25/1 each four places.

Oddschecker, now that I can actually view it, states she's avaiable at silly odds again on yes, you guessed it, Betfair.

Sean Levey booked to ride, she's snuck in at no. 27 on the list, with 28 runners due to run.

I was looking at the form in April with the favourite More Thunder and leading fancy Aramram again.

Yes, those horses have won since and as a result gone up in the handicap. But still, I don't think Woodhay had her ideal ground which she should get on Saturday.

Worth reiterating she is 8lbs better off with Aramram for that run and 12lbs better off with More Thunder. As I say, it's not black and white, in the sense these horses have improved and franked that form, but still, at the weights she's ticking boxes. She's also well in with Completely Random on her other form which I mentioned before.

I seem to be the only bloke in the Northern Hemisphere that fancies her and I'm a bit perplexed by this.

I know it'll be a red hot race and she needs a career best, but all things considered, I reckon 25/1 was worth the each way punt.
 
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5.00: Wokingham (Handicap) Stakes
Apollo One
Valiant Force
Zoum Zoum
City House
Jarraaf
Korker
Purosangue
Symbol of Honour
Shartash
Ten Pounds
Get It
Game run
Twilight Calls
Desert Cop
Orazio
Cover Up
Vadream
Aramram
We Never Stop
Roman Dragon
More Thunder
Golden Mind
Completely Random
Woodhay Wonder
Noble Truth
Germanic
Saint Lawrence
Jumby
-28 declared-
Reserves: Holkham Bay, Elmonjed, Toca Madera

Betting: https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/2025-06-21-royal-ascot/17:00/winner
 
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I was first drawn to Jumby in this, sneaking in at the bottom of the weights, but heā€™s been a bit disappointing and may need 7f now, especially on ground as fast as it will be on Saturday. Will have to have small amount on just in case.

One that I really fancy is Twilight Calls, if he runs, and Iā€™ve backed him at 28/1. Itā€™s possible he may not run, as he turned out in the King Charles III on Tuesday.

He loves fast ground. Although he is seven now, he doesnā€™t have many miles on the clock. Heā€™s joined Richard Spencer this season from Henry Candy. Candy had a terrible season in 2024, but this one still ran really well 3 of the 5 times he saw a racecourse, and OK the other 2. Jamie Spencer rides (hopefully getting a better run through than he did on La Botte). Thatā€™s interesting, given the Hays have Purosangue in this (currently 14/1) and Iā€™m sure he could have ridden that.

He also ran in the Kingā€™s Stand/King Charles III the previous 3 seasons finishing 2nd, 4th and 6th (RPRā€™s 110 to 114) and it may be he needs a 6th furlong now. He looks to have a lot in his favour, especially so if the ground gets faster, inconveniencing some of the others.
 


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