James Fanshawe can gain his second success in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes with The Tin Man (4.20) on the final day of Royal Ascot. The Newmarket trainer, who bagged this prize five years ago with Society Rock, has produced a succession of talented sprinters including Deacon Blues, a half-brother to The Tin Man.
While the ground appears to be drying out, and with little prospect of significant rain, what moisture remains in the ground should be enough to allow this four‑year‑old to run his race. An improver throughout last season, he was never more impressive than when hacking up in a handicap over this course and distance in October, on ground similar to what he will get here.
He has a couple of lengths to make up on Twilight Son from their running in a Group One here later that month but that was The Tin Man’s first venture into Group company. Moreover, he seems to have sustained his progress, to judge by a Windsor reappearance last month, while Twilight Son was disappointing in his first run back and finds the ground going against him now.
2.30 Frankel’s first Royal Ascot runner did him masses of credit when Queen Kindly got a place yesterday and now Cunco can give him his first winner here. Trained by John Gosden, he could hardly have been greener on his Newbury debut but won anyway and that experience should have brought him on a lot. The extra furlong may also make a big difference.
3.05 From the in-form Ralph Beckett yard that won with Kinema yesterday, Pacify has a big chance of providing the Prince of Wales with an Ascot winner in his colours. He was giving more than a stone to the winner when second at York last time and was unlucky in running at Epsom in April, a race that has worked out. The first-time visor can help.
3.40 Exosphere looked vastly improved when scoring at Newmarket in April and looks like one to stick with. He comes from the Sir Michael Stoute stable whose fine record in this race includes six wins in the past 10 runnings.
5.00 The Wokingham is extraordinarily competitive, as one would hope, but Tupi might be overpriced at a general 25-1. He flew home to be beaten by a neck by Magical Memory in a Group Three in April and that rival is favourite for the Diamond Jubilee. Top weight is quite a burden but he carries only 9lb more than the bottom weight here and has first-time blinkers to sharpen him up. His ability to stay further than the bare six furlongs of this race will be a major asset.
5.35 Oriental Fox hosed up in this race last year and the ground is drying up for him, but possibly not quite fast enough. Clondaw Warrior, from the powerful Willie Mullins yard, looks the pick at these weights having been a close second in September’s Doncaster Cup.
