Wolferton Stakes 2026
The Wolferton Stakes is always one of the trickier Royal Ascot puzzles, with lightly raced improvers, proven Pattern-class performers and several horses dropping into Listed company after mixing in stronger races.
Run over 1m2f on good to firm ground, this year’s renewal looks wide open. The trends point strongly towards Ancient Wisdom and last year’s winner Haatem, while the raw ratings bring several others firmly into the argument.
Key Wolferton Stakes Trends
- Class Profile: 20/20 winners had not recorded their highest run in a Group 3 or Class 3.
- Market: 20/20 winners were no bigger than 25/1.
- Recent Campaign: 20/20 winners had run in 3-10 races within the last year.
- Career Runs: 20/20 winners had run in 3-23 career races.
- Trip Wins: 20/20 winners had fewer than 3 wins at the trip.
- Freshness: 20/20 winners came here off a break of 14-208 days.
- Speed: 20/20 winners had achieved a TS of 72+ in their last 3 starts and 86+ during their career.
- Last Win: 17/20 winners had achieved an RPR of 102+ on their most recent win.
The pure trends shortlist is headed by Ancient Wisdom and Haatem, who both achieved a perfect 15/15 match. Enfjaar and Map Of Stars both scored 14/15, with King’s Gambit, Arabian Light, Galen, Survie and Persica all on 13/15.
Turf Talk Eliminator + Ratings
| Horse | Trends % | Rating | OR/RPR | Class | Trip Profile | Recent | Trainer | Going/Course | Key Positives | Negatives | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haatem | 100% | 242 | 112 / 125 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | Perfect 15/15 trends match, last year’s winner, strong course profile, James Doyle booked and Richard Hannon yard going well. | Needs to bounce back from latest run, but this may well have been the target. | Main selection |
| Ancient Wisdom | 100% | 240 | 114 / 124 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | △ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | Perfect 15/15 trends match, strong ratings profile, Charlie Appleby in excellent form and proven on good to firm. | Returns from 181 days off and needs to prove sharp enough first time back. | Main danger |
| Map Of Stars | 93% | 237 | 113 / 127 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | △ | ✓✓ | ? | Strong trends score, high RPR, James McDonald booked and first-time cheekpieces could sharpen him up. | Recent form needs improving and fast ground is a small question. | Shortlist |
| Galen | 87% | 235 | 114 / 128 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | △ | ✓✓ | △ | Highest recent RPR in the race, strong class profile and Joseph O’Brien can target these races well. | Latest run was poor and needs to return to peak form. | Big player |
| Arabian Light | 87% | 232 | 111 / 123 | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓✓ | △ | Strong Appleby/Buick profile, solid trends match and a positive trial in the Brigadier Gerard. | Needs to find a little more on raw ratings. | Major player |
| Ghostwriter | 80% | 231 | 116 / 126 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ? | ✗ | ✓✓✓ | Strong back-class, high OR, excellent RPR and proven fast-ground profile. | Long absence and trainer form are concerns. | Class chance |
| Enfjaar | 93% | 230 | 108 / 123 | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓✓ | △ | Strong trends match, Roger Varian in excellent form and solid RPR/TS combination. | Good-to-firm record is not ideal. | Shortlist |
| Survie | 87% | 228 | 111 / 129 | ✓✓✓ | ✓ | ✓ | △ | △ | Highest RPR figure in the field and Ryan Moore booked. | Trainer form is quiet and overall profile has a few questions. | Dangerous if back to best |
| Wimbledon Hawkeye | 73% | 226 | 115 / 125 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | △ | Good raw ability, encouraging prep run and solid RPR profile. | Trend score is lower than the main contenders. | Place chance |
| Persica | 87% | 224 | 114 / 126 | ✓✓✓ | △ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | Strong trends profile, high OR/RPR and arrives after a good recent effort. | Wide draw and trip/class setup need to fall right. | Place claims |
| King’s Gambit | 87% | 222 | 109 / 122 | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | △ | ✓ | ✗ | Strong trends match and enough old form to be competitive. | Good-to-firm record is a clear negative. | Needs more |
| Nahraan | 67% | 220 | 110 / 120 | ✓✓ | ✓ | ? | ✓✓ | ? | Very interesting lightly raced profile and smart form lines. | Firmish ground and long absence are both questions. | Interesting but risky |
| Royal Rhyme | 73% | 218 | 113 / 124 | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | △ | ✓✓ | △ | Good back-class and K R Burke yard going well. | Needs to improve recent efforts and ground may not be ideal. | Needs revival |
| Gaucher | 80% | 216 | 108 / 123 | ✓✓ | ? | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ? | Willie Mullins angle and Colin Keane booked. | Raw evidence on Flat at this level is thinner than others. | Possible improver |
| Dividend | 73% | 214 | 111 / 122 | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | △ | ✗ | ✓ | Progressive earlier profile and decent TS/RPR combination. | Stable form is a big concern. | Opposable |
| Adelaide River | 80% | 212 | 108 / 124 | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | △ | ✓✓ | △ | Back-class and useful RPR. | Recent profile and speed figures leave questions. | Needs more |
Key: ✓✓✓ strong positive, ✓✓ positive, ✓ acceptable, △ slight concern, ✗ negative, ? unknown or limited data.
Final Turf Talk Filter
The final filter brings this down to Haatem, Ancient Wisdom, Map Of Stars, Galen, Arabian Light, Ghostwriter and Enfjaar.
Haatem just edges the Turf Talk ratings. He is a perfect 15/15 trends match, won this race last year, has the right course-and-trip profile and is reunited with James Doyle. His latest run was not ideal, but this looks a race he may well have been trained for.
Ancient Wisdom is the other perfect trends horse and has been given a clear ratings boost due to his strong profile and high-class background. Charlie Appleby is in excellent form, and if he is fully tuned up after his break, he is a massive player.
Map Of Stars is dangerous if the cheekpieces spark him back to his best, while Galen has one of the strongest peak RPR profiles in the race but needs to bounce back from a poor latest run.
Wolferton Stakes 2026 Tips
1. Haatem 13/2
Haatem is the Turf Talk selection after combining a perfect 15/15 trends match with proven course form and last year’s winning Wolferton profile.
He has clearly shown he can handle this race, and if he has been primed for another big run, he looks the most solid all-round option.
2. Ancient Wisdom 20/1
Ancient Wisdom is a major danger. He is also a perfect trends match, represents Charlie Appleby and brings a high-class background into the race.
The only real concern is whether he is sharp enough after 181 days off, but his profile is extremely strong.
3. Map Of Stars 12/1
Map Of Stars has a strong trends profile and the highest peak RPR in the field. He has been slightly below his best recently, but first-time cheekpieces could be the angle.
If they work, he has the raw ability to get very involved.
Turf Talk Verdict
Haatem is the selection, with Ancient Wisdom the other perfect trends horse and Map Of Stars a major threat if the headgear works. Galen, Arabian Light and Ghostwriter are also respected.
Final Selection
Haatem
The trends, ratings and final filter point narrowly towards Haatem as the strongest Turf Talk play in the 2026 Wolferton Stakes.
1st: Haatem 13/2
2nd: Ancient Wisdom 20/1
3rd: Map Of Stars 12/1
Danger: Galen
Final note: this is a deep Listed race, so late market strength, draw, pace setup and fast-ground suitability could still shift the final picture.
