Hogan Ascot bound with Gordon Tom Hogan is gearing up for a rare Royal Ascot runner with Gordon Lord Byron in the Wokingham Stakes. The ultra-consistent sprinter has picked up where he left off last season, finishing either first or second in his last four outings. The two wins came in quick succession at Tipperary and Cork last month, while they were sandwiched between runner-up spots behind the progressive Maarek at Naas and at that same course behind One Spirit in the Owenstown Stud Stakes. "The Wokingham has been the plan for a while," said Hogan. "He has been running well this season and he's an improving horse. "It was a good run this week but it was over seven furlongs and he didn't quite see it out. A stiff six will be perfect and he'd prefer good ground." Recalling his previous experiences in competitive British handicaps, the County Tipperary trainer said: "I was third in the Lincoln at Doncaster with Common World. He ran well in some other big ones too, so I know how hard they are to win. "I'm delighted the owner can have a runner at Ascot. I bought him for two grand as a foal and couldn't find him an owner until he was two. It's not so easy to do that in Ireland now the builders don't have the money anymore!"
