Punting pointers as Noseda seeks to sign off with a second Wokingham winner

5.00 Royal Ascot
Wokingham Stakes | 6f | 3yo+ | ITV/SSR

Well, it is the place for fairytales. Frankie Dettori penned one on Thursday when Stradivarius completed a fabulous four-timer in the Gold Cup but if there is room for another chapter this year perhaps it will be Jeremy Noseda signing off his 25-year career as a trainer with a second Wokingham winner.

Noseda knows what it takes to win the Wokingham. Laddies Poker Two had been off for the best part of two years but that did not stop her from justifying favouritism in fine style under Johnny Murtagh in 2010.

Fast-forward nine years and Cenotaph is faced with the task of giving him the perfect send-off as he is set to hand in his licence following a successful career which started in 1995.

Fast ground is what Cenotaph wants and scorching sunshine on Friday at the track is certainly helping his cause.

Noseda said: "He's in great order, but I'm a little concerned the ground won't dry out enough for him as he's a horse who would want the word firm in the going description. A single-figure draw also doesn't look like the place you want to be at the moment as they're all coming from high, but all of that can change between now and 5pm on Saturday so we'll see. It doesn't look ideal currently, but that's life."

Can Danzeno do what Out Do did?

If you think Danzeno is too old to win the Wokingham, think again.

You only have to rewind two years to find the last eight-year-old to win it, that was Out Do, and Danzeno comes into the contest on the back of an impressive victory at Nottingham. That was his first success since July of 2017 and Mick Appleby has managed to secure the services of the one and only Frankie Dettori.

Appleby said: "He's in good form and has a decent draw in the middle. He was impressive at Nottingham, so hopefully he's back to his best and will take all the beating."

Bacchus back for more as Meehan issues upbeat bulletin

If Brian Meehan believes Bacchus had got every bit as good a chance as he did last year then that is very good news indeed.

Bacchus won the race 12 months ago off a mark of 105 and is only 3lb higher as he bids to defend the crown he battled so bravely to pick up when fending off hot favourite Dreamfield last year. Jim Crowley, who was successful on him last year, is back in the saddle too so there are plenty of positives.

"He won the Wokingham last year, and has trained all spring with this in mind, he is in really good shape, and we have been very pleased with him, and I think he has got a good a chance as he did last year," Meehan said.

Bacchus narrowly wins the Wokingham from favourite DreamfieldCredit: Edward Whitaker

Byron returns to happiest hunting ground

Five previous visits to Ascot have yielded two wins and a second so it is safe to say Cape Byron is suited by the straight dash at the famous Berkshire venue.

His most recent visit to the venue was a winning one as he saw off 25 rivals in the Victoria Cup but that was over seven furlongs and this is a furlong less. It will be his first time to try the trip.
Roger Varian thinks he has enough natural pace to cope with the extra emphasis on speed so it is no surprise to see him top the market at his happiest hunting ground.

Varian said: "He showed plenty of speed in the Victoria Cup and we have no qualms about dropping him back for this. The ground should be in his favour and he's been training well."

Cape Byron (yellow silks) fares best in the Victoria CupCredit: Getty Images

What they say

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Gifted Master
It's a breezy and sunny day at Ascot today and by 5pm tomorrow the ground will have dried out. That will suit and he's in sparkling form, he won the Stewards' Cup off 111. He's on 107 so we're hoping for a good run but it's a hard contest to win.

Kevin Ryan, trainer of Hey Jonesy
He's in good form and it's a drop back to handicap company for him. Hopefully he will run a good race.

Paul Cole, trainer of Baron Bolt
He is working well and should run a nice race. The ground should not be an issue for him.

Charlie Johnston, assistant to Mark Johnston, trainer of Lake Volta
We spent most of the season thinking he's better over seven furlongs and he looked in control here a furlong out in a seven-furlong handicap last month before being swamped in the closing stages. That gave us the idea to go for this race and he has an each-way chance in a typically competitive renewal.

Clive Cox, trainer of Tis Marvellous
He enjoys running at Ascot and he's been training well. The drying ground will be fine for him.

Archie Watson, trainer of Corinthia Knight
If he reproduces his all-weather form he should have a good chance.

Tony Carroll, trainer of Recon Mission
He's been very well since York and has a lot in his favour, although I wouldn't want the ground to dry up too much. If conditions are in his favour I'd like to think he'd have a great chance. He's a good horse and I'm hoping he could prove better than handicap company in the future.

Spotlight verdict

Frankie Dettori has been in wonderful form this week and he is sure to coax the maximum out of Danzeno but the most interesting runner is Cape Byron, who was harder to restrain than usual when winning the Victoria Cup over 7f here last month and could find that a fiercely run race at this trip works really well for him. Still relatively unexposed in handicaps, he can do better yet and perhaps even justify his Group 1 July Cup entry. Bacchus made a fine winning reappearance in this race last year and has to be respected, while Hey Jonesy is also considered, along with Foxtrot Lady, who should have a big handicap in her at some stage, and Gunmetal. The most exotic challenger of all, Southern Horse, all the way from Argentina, will hopefully do himself proud.

Coral are paying an additional place on the 5.00 Royal Ascot, that's 6 places rather than 4. Standard place terms apply if minimum runner requirements are not met. Click to view the card here