A look ahead to the Wokingham

Paul D'Arcy mapped out a crack at the Wokingham Stakes with Spring Loaded in January and finally gets the chance to see if the plan has a happy ending.

The Newmarket handler has overseen the rapid improvement of the sprinter, who arrives at Royal Ascot full of confidence on the back of four straight wins.

Spring Loaded needed to rise significantly in the handicap just to ensure he made the cut, but D'Arcy has managed the first part of the plot to perfection.

Many trainers heading to Berkshire will be fearful of any more rain, but not D'Arcy, who feels soft ground holds no fears for his big Wokingham hope.

"He's won on what I would call soft ground before at Windsor, so that (the ground) won't be an issue," he said.

"I wasn't particularly worried about him missing the cut, but some people were. I'm hoping he'll run a big race.

"This has been the plan since January, we've always felt it would be the perfect race for him.

"You nearly need a Group horse to win these sprints now, anyway, and I hope he'll go on to be one.

"We were patient with him last year and we're reaping the rewards now.

"The only time he's run over further than six furlongs was against My Dream Boat, who was running off 76 in a handicap at Doncaster, and mine didn't stay.

"It turns out we faced an impossible task that day anyway."

Paul Midgley has shown in recent seasons there are few better trainers of sprinters, and his record is even more impressive given his efforts have seemingly come with cast-offs from other yards.

His runner Ninjago falls into that category, having left Richard Hannon, but his fourth at York on his first run since was an effort full of promise.

"He had such a tough winter - wind ops, castration, you name it - so for him to go and run like he did at York, we were over the moon," said Midgely.

"It just goes to show you what a great constitution he has. There are no negatives, really, and, as I've been saying for a long time, we think he's a massive price."

Majestic Moon is a regular in these races for trainer John Gallagher and his trainer expects another bold show.

He said: "We've been struggling to find ideal races over seven furlongs for him, but he's got so much speed I think the six will probably suit and he likes Ascot as well."

Robert Cowell runs Toofi and Outback Traveller, and said: "Toofi is in great shape. Tony Nerses (owners' racing manager) gave me a few pointers about him but he has settled in nicely at the yard.

"We ran him at York the other day to sharpen him up. He looks in great shape and everything is fine with him.

"Outback Traveller we bought out of Jeremy Noseda's yard and he is quite high in the betting for the race.

"He has had a couple of prep runs over seven furlongs and the drop in trip down to six should be fine for him.

"He is in great form."

Mick Appleby's Poyle Vinnie won the Scottish Stewards' Cup last year but has looked in the grip of the handicapper since.

"He is in good order and the ground should be in his favour compared to others in the race. Everything looks ideal for him," said Appleby.

Ann Duffield hopes the ground does not get too soft for her hope George Dryden, the mount of Frankie Dettori.

"We're delighted to have a horse like him for these races, but we're really concerned about the going," she said.

"It's typical. The one year you have what you think is the perfect horse for the race and it does nothing but rain."

David Lanigan is another cursing the conditions for last year's winner Interception.

The mare has had just one run this season, when third in a Listed race at Haydock.

"She's in good form and this has been her target, but I'm hoping they don't get any more rain," he said.

"Unfortunately, that doesn't look likely. Whether she'll still run if it gets really soft, I don't know."