Racecards
16:20 Ascot
Wokingham Stakes (Showcase Handicap) (Class B)
- 29 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Firm
- Form 102140
- Age 6
- Weight 10-1
- Trainer N P Littmoden
- Jockey J-P Guillambert
raced nearside, dwelt and always behind
- Form 000-641
- Age 6
- Weight 9-12
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey S J Drowne
chased leaders nearside, weakened over 1f out
- Form 00-3201
- Age 5
- Weight 9-9
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Richard Hughes
chased leaders nearside, led group narrowly over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 330-434
- Age 5
- Weight 9-8
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey Ted Durcan
behind far side, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
- Form 3104-01
- Age 6
- Weight 9-8
- Trainer J Akehurst
- Jockey T Quinn
held up behind nearside, good headway over 2f out, ridden to dispute lead approaching final furlong, one paced
- Form 00-6201
- Age 8
- Weight 9-7
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey S Sanders
prominent nearside, weakened and behind final 2f
- Form 3-21D24
- Age 6
- Weight 9-6
slowly into stride, soon close up nearside, led over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on same pace
- Form 2U-2311
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey Willie Supple
in touch nearside, driven to lead approaching final furlong, ran on and hung right inside final furlong to dead heat on line (bit slipped)
- Form 0-56610
- Age 7
- Weight 9-5
raced alone centre, with leaders, every chance approaching final furlong, weakened
Vanderlin
21- Form 26020-3
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey L P Keniry
held up nearside, headway 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
- Form 4-03001
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey G Baker
led far side to approaching final furlong, weakened quickly
Curfew
42- Form 11104-5
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer J R Fanshawe
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
held up in touch far side, headway 2f out, effort to press leaders approaching final furlong, kept on same pace
- Form 005-320
- Age 8
- Weight 9-0
held up far side, ridden and no impression leaders, final 2f
- Form 12/153-3
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Trainer J R Fanshawe
- Jockey M Dwyer
in touch nearside, pushed along over 2f out, stayed on
Plateau
8- Form 3/510-00
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey O Peslier
raced nearside, prominent 4f
- Form 43-1000
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey C Catlin
prominent far side, still every chance approaching final furlong, weakened quickly
- Form 3121
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey Kieren Fallon
close up far side, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
Abbajabba
20- Form 020-400
- Age 7
- Weight 8-11
- Trainer C W Fairhurst
- Jockey Pat Eddery
behind nearside, kept on final furlong, never able to challenge
Enchanted
21- Form 1560-36
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Trainer G G Margarson
- Jockey Gary Stevens
well in rear nearside, ran on final furlong, finished well
- Form 53-0036
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey E Ahern
towards rear nearside, stayed on from over 1f out, never near to challenge
- Form 02-4002
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey J Fortune
prominent far side, every chance approaching final furlong, weakened
- Form 006231
- Age 5
- Weight 8-10
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey P Doe
raced far side, held up, ridden half way, kept on
- Form 0-00430
- Age 6
- Weight 8-8
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey E Creighton
held up on outside far side, pushed along over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 0-01006
- Age 6
- Weight 8-8
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey W Woods
led nearside to over 2f out, weakened quickly
- Form 00111-1
- Age 5
- Weight 8-8
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
chased leaders far side, ridden over 2f out, every chance approaching final furlong, one paced
- Form 300-0U1
- Age 5
- Weight 8-7
hood removed late leaving stalls, started slowly and always behind.
- Form 60-5650
- Age 9
- Weight 8-7
keen hold on outer nearside, no impression when hung right from over 1f out
Verdict
A number of these have been primed for this race and it provides punters with the usual headaches brought on by large-field sprint handicaps. Last year 1-2, Capricho and Border Subject, along with Patavelian and the progressive Fayr Jag are all respected as live dangers for a place at least, but preference is for Fire Up The Band, who has been a revelation since finishing second in the Balmoral Handicap at last year's festival. He looks sure to make a bold bid to land the three-timer. David Nichols has been quietly confident about his charge since his course and distance victory here in March and the four-year-old could easily prove to be a class above the majority of his field today. Capricho and Border Subject both have much higher marks to overcome but should not be too far away if running up to form. Patavelian has also improved vastly in the last year and will relish the ground. He has a nice racing weight and is sure to attract plenty of support considering his trainer's record in the race. However, he has been done few favours by the draw and he will need luck on his side on the far side. Fayr Jag is probably the best each way bet in the race and it would be no surprise to see his price take a tumble. But Fire Up The Band has already shown he travels well enough in his races to take advantage when the field split into two groups.