16:25 Royal Ascot: Albasharah still fancied despite rating gain
Published:Albasharah already looked talented as a two-year-old when winning on both of her career starts, but the manner of her victory at Doncaster on her sole start this season makes her a worthy favourite in the Wolferton Handicap at 9/2.
She was little more than shaken up that day to prevail by eight lengths and the handicapper was clearly impressed as Albasharah has been raised 16lb since.
The good news is that the third at Doncaster has reappeared and won since and the Wolferton is a race that has been swaying in the direction of four-year-olds with minimal seasonal runs in the last decade.
Nine of the last 10 winners have been aged four, while further good news is that two of the last three years have seen the favourite oblige.
Throw in that a low draw is preferred given the short distance between the stalls and the first bend over this 1m2f trip and Albasharah becomes even tougher to oppose from an ideal position in stall two.
Meanwhile, there is another horse further down the Royal Ascot betting that may have slipped under the radar for the Wolferton.
Mobaco is 20/1 to win the Wolferton and is another that is a four-year-old that has run just the once this season.
This was a disappointing performance on debut for new handler Luca Cumani when last of five at Goodwood, but there is a strong possibility that he needed the run and he was carrying a penalty.
Mobaco was a Group 3 winner in France over the Wolferton trip last season and so possesses some talent, while he has been dropped 3lb from his Goodwood performance, which could be significant.
He runs from stall three, while positioned in the plum draw is Dick Doughtywylie, who is running off 19lb higher than his last winning mark.
However, he has been running well against better opposition than this lately and represents the partnership of John Gosden and William Buick, who have combined to win the last two Wolferton renewals with Beachfire and then Gatewood 12 months ago.
Therefore, he would be foolish to write off at 8/1.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
