Fran Berry column ahead of the final day of Royal Ascot 2018

It's been a hectic week as ever during Royal Ascot and I was really happy to hit the frame on What's The Story in the Royal Hunt Cup on Wednesday.

He ran a huge race and there's definitely a big one to be won with him this year. There was some talk about the John Smith's Cup being a potential target for him after that and the extra couple of furlongs there would suit him ideally.

Kurious finished out of the money in the Queen Mary Stakes but she wasn't beaten far at all - finishing just two and a half lengths off the winner in ninth.

We were hoping to get a lead from the American filly she didn't really show up as expected and I was left to lead for much of the way in the centre group.

She was still a bit green and dropped back when they really quickened but stayed on at the end and for only her second run it was a very decent effort.

She won over a stiff five furlongs at Sandown first time out and I'd have thought she'd get six no problem this year.

It's Friday night on the July Course at Newmarket for me and I'm hopeful Danceteria can follow up his Sandown victory in the Fly London Southend Airport To Milan Handicap.

He's gone up from 77 to 82 but I was quite impressed with how he won last time after a slow start meant I had to resort to plan B and the return to 10 furlongs here could help him overcome the 5lb rise.

Chakrii has his third career start in the Fly London Southend Airport To Lyon Novice Stakes and on what he's shown so far then he's one for the future with a bit more experience under the belt.

It's obviously a warm enough race with some leading yards represented and realistically I could be fighting for the places at best.

My Boy Sepoy ran a huge race when beaten half a length at Nottingham earlier in the month and is due to go up 5lb from tomorrow onwards. So he's obviously well-in at the weights and is a big, scopey horse so should keep improving with time.

He's up in grade a bit now and, again, there's some top yards with runners, but Stuart Williams is happy with him and I do feel he can hold his own.

It's back to Ascot on Saturday and two rides on the final day of the Royal meeting.

Lihou is seemingly up against it in the hugely competitive Windsor Castle Stakes but he's done well since Chester where he ran a superb race in the Lily Agnes behind No Lippy. This has been the plan for him since and while stall one might not be absolutely ideal, I suppose if makes your mind up for you as a jockey as to where you're going to go.

I've got another good ride on an outsider with an each-way squeak in Flying Pursuit in the Wokingham Stakes.

It looks fairly significant that Tim Easterby sends him down here for the race and he's capable of being in the mix on his day.

Recent form hasn't been great but last season he was really consistent and won at Ripon from a mark of 96 and he's back down to 99 now. There's bound to be some well-treated sprinters in this and Dreamfield is an incredibly short price for a race of this nature, but it's essentially a wide-open handicap and with a bit of luck we could be in the shake-up.

The highlight of the card has to be the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and I do think Harry Angel is the one they all have to beat, despite yet to win a race at the track. I don't think that's a fair reflection of his ability and to me he looked very happy and relaxed at York.

The one I'd always come back to at a big price here is Librisa Breeze, who goes so well at the course and should get the race run to suit again. He might have preferred some ease underfoot in an ideal world but he does have some form on a quicker surface and represents each-way value again.

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