Burrows hoping Laraaib can deliver him a Royal Ascot first despite outside draw

Wolferton Stakes | Listed | 1m2f | 4yo + | ITV4/RUK

Laraaib has been the Wolferton's ante-post favourite, and his reappearance second to Prince of Wales's-bound Poet's Word at Sandown gives him every chance, but trainer Owen Burrows' heart sank when he saw him draw stall 15 of 16.

Contributer won from the same stall in 2014, so it's not impossible, but since then the winners have been drawn seven, five and five again.

Burrows, who has a clutch of live chances of landing a first Royal Ascot win this week, said: "He was in the Hardwicke, and we will be stepping up to a mile and a half at some stage, but this looked the logical step and he's done everything right since Sandown.

"Stall 15 makes it that bit harder but I'm pleased with him."

New conditions, new spot

The Wolferton, which was introduced to the meeting in 2002 and has traditionally been run on the Saturday, is no longer a handicap, but you would never have guessed it to look at the betting.

It is now a conditions race in order to comply with changes to the Pattern rules, yet a maximum field of 16 are separated by just 8lb on Racing Post Ratings and 24 hours before the off they were betting 6-1 the field.

With £100,000 up for grabs it's no ordinary Listed race, and a strong team of established Group and Listed runners has been joined by some interesting 'wannabes', headed by Sharja Bridge and Big Country.

That pair are among the lowest-rated in the field, but they both have form in the top handicaps which generally represent the most reliable form, and they do not have much to find.

Royal hopes rest with Fabricate

Success for the Queen's Fabricate in one of the lower profile events of the week might not spark scenes to rival those that followed Estimate's win in the Gold Cup five years ago, but a royal victory at Royal Ascot is still special and there have been plenty of them – 23 and counting.

The Queen's Royal Ascot winners

Fabricate's trainer Michael Bell, who has a strong team this week despite the absence of Gold Cup winner Big Orange, is hopeful and said: "He has a 3lb penalty, which won't make life easy, but you can put a line through his last run on account of the ground and if he performs to his best he's a big player."

What they say

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Leshlaa
He ran some nice races in Dubai earlier this year and looks to be in good form. He ran well in the Britannia last year.

John Gosden, trainer of Monarchs Glen and Muntahaa
Taking Monarchs Glen to Dubai didn't come off but he's been working nicely since and hopefully can give a better showing. Muntahaa is also on a retrieval mission after his front-running role in the Ormonde Stakes didn't come off, but he's been fine at home since and we'll see how he is back in trip.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khalid Abdullah, owner of Mirage Dancer
He put the race to bed pretty quickly at Goodwood and seems to have come out of the race in good shape. He's back in trip but we think he's equally effective at ten furlongs.

Mick Appleby, trainer of Big Country
He's got a good draw and he's maybe even come on again since the Zetland Gold Cup. He's in good order and I'd like to think he can finish in the first four.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Euginio
He's a model of consistency and very lightly raced for a horse his age. Trip and track should suit and, although he's not drawn ideally, we're trying headgear for the first time. He always runs his race.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Kidmenever
He's making his first start in Europe this season on the back of a good win at Meydan, but he has a bit to find at the weights compared to 12 months ago. If he can repeat his run from last year he should be very competitive again.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Morando
He has an obvious chance on his Sandown run and his form for Roger [Varian] last year, but he's never been exposed to fast ground, so that's an unknown.

Alan King, trainer of Scarlet Dragon
He was a close sixth in the race last year when trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, but it was a handicap then, whereas now it is a conditions race and on official ratings he has a bit to find, though I was obviously delighted how well he ran in the Group 3 at Newbury.

Roger Varian, trainer of Sharja Bridge
He has trained nicely following his promising reappearance at Newmarket and looks ready for both this step up in trip and grade. He has a potentially tricky draw in stall 13 but conditions will suit and I'm certain his best days are still ahead of him.

Brian Meehan, trainer of Spark Plug
His last run in the Festival Stakes at Goodwood was a really good and slightly unlucky performance. He's expected to go close again.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Yucatan
Things didn't go his way in the Coronation Cup last time when the soft ground was far from ideal. He's dropping in trip and class and is in good form.

Henry Candy, trainer of Chain Of Daisies
She wasn't quite herself at York but she's come on for the run and my string are in much better form now. Not many horses make all at Ascot but she's hard to pass. She'll probably end up back in fillies' only races after this – it might prove a bit tough.

Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news