The annual ‘cavalry
charge’ that is the Wokingham Stakes, takes place over 6 furlongs
at Ascot and is, without question, the major betting heat on the
final day of the Royal meeting. Two winning favourites in the last
ten years is probably just about par for the course in a race of
this nature, but winners at 33/1, 22/1, 20/1 and 14/1 in the same
period suggest ‘tilting at windmills’ may not be an entirely
fruitless process.
Dinkum Diamond (33/1)
has run 39 times in a career stretching back to May 2010 but,
amazingly, has never won a handicap. However, there was nothing wrong
with his most recent effort in that sphere, when fifth of twenty-two,
beaten 2½ lengths, behind Eastern Impact over 6 furlongs on the
Rowley Mile Course at Newmarket last month. He subsequently proved no
match for Tropics in a Listed race at Windsor but, with Edward
Greatrex taking off a useful 7lb, he’s not badly handicapped on his
best form and is virtually certain to run his race.
Poyle Vinnie (40/1) has
an absence of 170 days to overcome and is used to plying his trade at
a much lower level, but has officially improved 32lb since this time
last year and may not have finished yet. He remains 12lb higher in
the weights than when winning on the Fibresand at Southwell last
November, but has shown his liking for a testing 6 furlongs in the
past and could surprise some better fancied rivals. Nottinghamshire
trainer Michael Appleby is 0-20 at Ascot, but there is, as they say,
a first time for everything.
Related (33/1) is
another who’s been campaigned on synthetic surfaces so far this
season but, while he’s shown his best form on Polytrack, he made
all to win a lower grade handicap, over 7 furlongs, at Goodwood last
summer. His latest win, over 6 furlongs at Kempton in March,
suggested a stiffer test of stamina would do him no harm and although
he’s been off the course for 84 days he’s won after a similar
break in the past.
Tilting at windmills we
may be, but our three against the field this week are Dinkum Diamond
(33/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral), Poyle Vinnie (40/1 with Totesport,
Betfred and Coral) and Related (33/1 generally available). If we had
to pick one, it would be Poyle Vinnie, who’s arguably the most
progressive of the trio and may prove handily drawn in stall 16. Good
luck!
