The Wolferton Stakes is a listed contest run over 1m2f. It takes place at 17:40 on Tuesday 18th June, which is the first day of Royal Ascot 2024. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

13⁽⁵⁾

031-11

Ouzo

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

9-5

106

117

Has rediscovered the winning habit since snapping a losing run when dead-heating in a handicap over the straight 1m here in September, adding handicaps over 1m1f at Meydan in January and February (all good ground); a big career best will be required to make it four in a row, though.

NR⁽¹⁾

511-42

Certain Lad

T: Jack Channon

9-5

108

122

Ended a long losing spell with two handicap wins (1m2f; soft and heavy) last October; creditable second of four in 1m2f Sandown Group 3 (soft) last time but he's failed to get competitive in two previous attempts in this race.

4⁽¹²⁾

16-824

Astro King

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Daniel & Claire Kubler

9-5

111

125

Has proved an excellent buy by connections, notably winning the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket (1m1f, good to firm) last September; showed he can mix it at Group level when second in the Group 3 Earl Of Sefton back at Newmarket (1m1f, good) in April; never-dangerous fourth in Group 2 there (1m4f) last month but he ran well enough to think he's still in form; each-way claims.

6⁽¹⁴⁾

30-413

Cemhaan

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: George Baker

9-5

110

120

Free-goer but he's very classy, producing a really smart handicap performance when making light of top weight in the competitive Rosebery on Kempton AW (1m3f) in April; creditable third in 1m4f Newbury Group 3 (good) since; probably playing for a place at best.

12⁽⁶⁾

3044-4

Notre Belle Bete

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

9-5

103

117

Four-time AW winner; has comparable form on turf but he took his record in this sphere to 0-17 when a creditable fourth of 15 in Epsom handicap (8.5f; good to soft) on reappearance 18 days ago; cheekpieces back on; it's unlikely that a first success on the grass will arrive now.

1⁽³⁾

43114-

Ancient Rome

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Charles Hills

9-10

110

120

Did very well when switched to this yard last summer, following a 1m2f Glorious Goodwood handicap success (good to soft) with a 1m Grade 3 win in the US (firm); no more than a respectable 4l fourth in 1m2f Longchamp Group 2 on final start; shoulders a 5lb penalty on reappearance.

8⁽⁴⁾

84-274

Haunted Dream

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: Hamad Al Jehani

9-5

104

119

Placed in some strong 1m2f handicaps for Ed Dunlop last summer; runner-up in the first of two starts for his new yard in Qatar at the beginning of 2024 and achieved a career-best RPR when fourth of 13 in 1m2f Epsom handicap (good to soft) on his British return 18 days ago; another personal best is needed if he's to play a prominent role here.

11⁽¹⁶⁾

/2-682

Mujtaba

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

9-5

108

121

Went close in Chester Group 2 (about 1m2f, soft) on sole outing in 2023; well beaten on first two runs back but revived with first-time blinkers added to his regular tongue-tie (combination retained) when second in 1m2f Goodwood Listed race (good) 25 days ago; another step forward is needed here and he's drawn widest; Jim Crowley prefers Israr.

14⁽⁷⁾

00167-

Savvy Victory

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: S Woods

9-5

109

123

Much improved to win a 1m2f Sandown Listed event (good) last July; had subsequent Group 3 and 2 winner Poker Face behind in second, so there's nothing wrong with that form, but well beaten in his two subsequent starts as 4yo; gelded ahead of this reappearance; not out of it on the Sandown form and his yard is among the winners.

3⁽⁹⁾

541-58

Checkandchallenge

J: Callum Shepherd

T: William Knight

9-8

111

121

Back to winning ways in Newmarket Listed race (1m2f, heavy) last November but down the field in two runs this spring (albeit in a Group 1 latterly) and he was only seventh in this 12 months ago; has a 3lb penalty for the Newmarket success; likely vulnerable.

9⁽⁸⁾

22-932

Israr

J: Jim Crowley

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-5

114

128

Group 2 winner (1m4f) last term; beaten favourite in two runs in Britain with blinkers added this spring but he ran right up to his best when second to Passenger in 1m2f Chester Group 2 (good to firm; also acts on heavy) last time, with the pair well clear; solid chance.

15⁽¹⁵⁾

152-48

Silver Sword

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Dylan Cunha

9-5

103

115

Won two fast-ground handicaps over 1m last summer and campaign concluded with 4l second in Group 3 at Newmarket (1m1f, soft); respectable fourth in 7f Haydock Listed race (good to firm) on reappearance but last of eight in Epsom Group 3 since.

10⁽¹¹⁾

4227-5

Knight

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

9-5

109

123

Won the Horris Hill at Newbury on heavy as a 2yo and underlined his liking for testing turf when second in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and a 1m Sandown Listed race (wore first-time cheekpieces) at the end of last summer; ended 3yo campaign on a low note at Newmarket and also ran poorly with a visor added on his Doncaster reappearance in March; given time since; no headgear now and also up in trip.

2⁽¹⁰⁾

1567-1

Bold Discovery

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

9-10

109

116

Reappeared after a gelding operation to win a 1m Group 3 at Leopardstown (good) last month but it wasn't a strong race of its type and he looks vulnerable under a 5lb penalty here; stamina is also not assured (weakened on his previous attempt at about 1m2f).

16⁽²⁾

1214-3

Torito

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-5

107

125

Good fourth in the Group 3 Hampton Court over C&D (good to firm) at last year's Royal meeting; not seen again (gelded) until third of 13 in 1m1f handicap at the Newmarket Guineas meeting in May, shaping very well; subsequently purchased by Wathnan Racing; this low-mileage 4yo should have more to offer after only six starts and is high on the shortlist.

5⁽¹³⁾

1231-1

Botanical

J: William Buick

T: George Boughey

9-5

107

123

Slammed this year's Lincoln winner Mr Professor at Hamilton (1m1f, soft) on final 3yo outing and produced an equally striking performance when readily following up off 10lb higher at the York Dante meeting (about 1m2f, good) on his reappearance in May; there's little doubt he can make his presence felt outside handicaps; player for a yard seeking a third win in this since 2020.

RACING POST TIP

Israr

Botanical and Torito (second choice) appeal as lightly raced, progressive 4yos who can win at this level but the latter's stablemate ISRAR has already achieved several RPRs good enough to win this in a normal year, including when second to Passenger (who was prominent in the betting for the Group 1 Prince Of Wales's before suffering a setback) at Chester last month. Astro King should also be in the mix, while one worth a mention at much bigger odds is Savvy Victory, whose defeat of Poker Face in a Sandown Listed race over this trip last July is good form.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Royal Champion [12]	5	9-8	16/1	Roger Varian	Jack Mitchell
2022	Dubai Future [11]	6	9-8	20/1	Saeed bin Suroor	Daniel Tudhope
2021	Reshoun [3]	7	9-7P	66/1	Ian Williams	William Buick
2020	Mountain Angel [5]	6	9-3	8/1	Roger Varian	James Doyle
2019	Addeybb [12]	5	9-3	5/1	William Haggas	Daniel Tudhope
2018	Monarchs Glen [6]	4	9-8	8/1	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2017	Snoano [5]	5	9-0	25/1	Tim Easterby	David Allan
2016	Sir Isaac Newton [5]	4	9-0	7/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2015	Mahsoob [7]	4	9-3	7/4F	John Gosden	Paul Hanagan
2014	Contributer [15]	4	9-5	9/1	Ed Dunlop	George Baker

Key race stats 2024

Key trends

Beaten on previous start, 9/10
Won on a right-handed track, 8/10
Ran no more than twice that season, 8/10
Won at Class 2 level or higher, 8/10
Aged four or five, 8/10
Drawn in single figures, 6/10 (all six drawn between five and seven)

Other factors

Seven winners had finished outside the top three last time out.

John Gosden has won this four times since 2011, including in 2018 (Monarchs Glen) – the first time it was a conditions race rather than a handicap.

What happened in the Wolferton Stakes last year?

ROYAL CHAMPION, who found the ground too testing in the Huxley Stakes on his reappearance, returned to his best. He raced three wide on the bend but came there travelling smoothly and picked up well. Bolshoi Ballet, who’s been running over further, was given a positive ride from stall 1 and, while done for pace by the winner, battled on well up the straight. Buckaroo came from a bit further back than the winner but had his chance in the straight and just couldn’t pick up as well as him.

Wolferton Stakes

17:40 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2024

What happened in the Wolferton Stakes last year?

All Races