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Royal Ascot

Veterans Hedger and Bowring relishing a shot at Wokingham prize

Silent Echo winning at Haydock for former trainer Roger Charlton last year
Silent Echo winning at Haydock for former trainer Roger Charlton last yearCredit: Clint Hughes

The Wokingham has an unusually short-priced clear favourite in Dreamfield, but two veterans of the training ranks are out to cause an upset.

Peter Hedger fields the nearest market rival to the John Gosden-trained 4-1 favourite in Silent Echo, a general 14-1 shot who on Saturday at Royal Ascot will bid to reverse form after a close second to Dreamfield over course and distance last month.

The four-year-old has since won two on the bounce at Windsor under Tom Marquand and, according to his 78-year-old West Sussex-based trainer, heads to Ascot with a real chance.


Wokingham Handicap, card, form and betting


“It’s a shame John Gosden didn’t go to Group races with Dreamfield, but anything can happen with 28 runners in a handicap,” Hedger said on Sunday.

“It’s just nice to have a horse who can go to Royal Ascot. I’ve only had two runners there in my life – I’m probably better known for fielding jumps horses at Ascot.”

Peter Hedger alongside jockey Simon Walker last year
Peter Hedger alongside jockey Simon Walker last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

Hedger’s first experience of the royal meeting came with Trelawny in 1960 while working as a stable lad with Syd Mercer, but he has yet to notch a Royal Ascot winner after 30 years as a trainer.

“I used to ride Trelawny work and went racing with her," he recalled. "She finished last at Royal Ascot. It was a horrific day and it never stopped raining, but the buzz is definitely different to everywhere else.

“A winner at Royal Ascot would be the icing on the cake. I’m not far off 80, so how much longer I can keep going I don’t know. I moan and groan and ache all over these days – people say if I’m not moaning something’s the matter.

“At my age if you haven’t got something to really look forward to you think about hanging your boots up and travelling the world or something. Exciting horses like Silent Echo keep you on the bridle looking forward.”

Roy Bowring, already an octogenarian, will also be plotting to take down the Wokingham favourite, in his case with 25-1 chance Foolaad.

Royal Ascot perhaps holds less sentimental value for the 81-year-old, who is based in Nottinghamshire. He said on Sunday: “We’ve had runners at Ascot before – First Maite won there twice and ran in the Wokingham in 1999 – but we’ve never had a winner there.

“The Wokingham will be just another race for me – I’ve been there and done it over the years."

He added: "A friend of mine always said, 'Forget Ascot, forget Cheltenham, a winner in a Southwell seller will do', and that probably rings true for me.”

Foolaad has become something of a stable star for Bowring, having already registered all four of the yard’s victories so far this year, racking up nearly £50,000 prize-money.

Foolaad: bids for his biggest career success at York on Wednesday
Foolaad: has won six times in 13 runs on the all-weather for BowringCredit: John Grossick

The seven-year-old won five on the spin over the minimum distance between December and April and performed well stepping up in trip last time out at York, finishing second to runaway winner George Bowen.

“He’s running well," said Bowring. "We’d want the ground on the easier side of firm and the track should suit him quite well.

“Foolaad has won four of his last five and we couldn’t be happier with him. He puts everything into his races. He’s in great form going into it but will be running against some top horses, so we'll have to wait and see.”

Bowring, however, does face an anxious wait over the availability of Robert Winston, and to an extent is keeping fingers crossed over Foolaad’s wellbeing.

He explained: “He's done a bit of work today and everything seems well. The only danger for us is there's been a lot of pollen around this area and a few of ours are coughing and sneezing, so hopefully he can avoid that!”


Don't miss the Racing Post Royal Ascot Guide 2018, the new 208-page book packed with all the information you need to get ready for the five-day summer spectacular. Order here or call 01933 304858


Published on 17 June 2018inRoyal Ascot

Last updated 13:42, 18 June 2018

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