Royal Ascot day five: Quotes from connections and Man On The Spot tips

2.30 Chesham Stakes (Listed)

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Views from connections

Part-owner Simon Chappell - Natalie's Joy

"Mark had said she'd been going very well at home before Goodwood. He's got a good bunch of juveniles this year but we didn't expect her to win like that. Even still, she looks very short in the betting to me given it looks such a strong race, with Coolmore and Godolphin represented and Mark having two other runners. I couldn't rule any of them out.

"It's very exciting going to Royal Ascot with a favourite and she did look special at Goodwood but the Derby winner (Masar) was beaten in this last year. She was in the Albany as well but we felt as she's only run once she might be better over further in a smaller field, rather than taking on the out-and-out sprinters."

Charlie Appleby - Beyond Reason

"She got beat at Newmarket on her first start finishing second before winning impressively last time out at Kempton. Stepping up to seven furlongs will really suit her."

Roger Varian - San Donato

"San Donato made a promising start in a warm Yarmouth novice and looks to have stepped forward in his home-work since. I think the extra furlong will suit him, he'll have no issues with the ground and I hope he is a nice colt in the making."

Man On The Spot Verdict

NATALIE’S JOY romped home by six lengths at Goodwood on her racecourse debut and will likely prove a warm order in this opener. She should stay this extra distance with stablemate Aussie View the only one of these to have competed over 7f so far when winning nicely at Doncaster. Mark Johnston’s third runner, New Winds, defied a penalty to win at Haydock recently while Aidan O’Brien bids for a third consecutive success but Cardini will need to step up on what he’s shown so far to figure. An easy winner at Kempton, Beyond Reason represents Godolphin while Arthur Kitt made a promising start with victory at Haydock and is preferred to Ripon winner Azor Ahai. San Donato make most appeal of those yet to win on the back of last month’s second at Yarmouth.

3.05 Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)

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Views from connections

Aidan O'Brien - Idaho, Cliffs Of Moher

"He's (Idaho) in good form and he won well at Chester. He was a little disappointing at Epsom. The ground was a little bit on the slow side and maybe that was the reason. Maybe it was the track, we are not sure. He seems to be in good form. I think he is a very straightforward horse. He very rarely runs a bad race. He doesn't always win, but he is consistent enough."

Roger Varian - Barsanti

"Barsanti was a bit unlucky in this race last year and his training has been better in the build-up to the contest this time around. These are his optimum conditions and I am looking forward to running him."

Man On The Spot Verdict

Barsanti just failed to catch Idaho in last year’s renewal and made a winning return in Listed company here last month. The latter won the Ormonde at Chester in May before struggling in the Coronation Cup at Epsom while stablemate Cliffs Of Moher makes a quick reappearance having failed to figure over 1m2f in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes here on Tuesday. But Ryan Moore abandons the Ballydoyle duo to keep faith with CRYSTAL OCEAN, runner-up in last year’s St Leger and still improving judged on a facile Group 3 success at Newbury last month. Sir Michael Stoute has won this prize five times in the last eight years and his colt looks the one to beat. Rare Rhythm won the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at last year’s meeting and beat Barsanti over 1m6f later in the year. But he may prove best over longer trips now, however, while Red Verdon has a bit to find on these terms.

3.40 Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed)

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Views from connections

Richard Fahey - Sabre

"He is a horse we like an awful lot. I don’t think we saw the best of him in the National Stakes at Sandown last time for various reasons I just hope there isn’t a draw bias as we’re out in 27 under the stands’ rail. He works well and he was my main hope for the week down there so I still hope he runs a big race."

Man On The Spot Verdict

Mutawaffer won over 6f at Goodwood last month but the runner-up was well beaten in the Coventry here on Tuesday. The Ballydoyle colt Van Beethoven was beaten by a lesser-fancied stablemate in Listed company at the Curragh but Joseph O’Brien’s Dom Carlos won easily at the same track earlier this month. Kessaar is a likely improver while Sabre came up just short in a Listed race over 5f at Sandown. QUEEN OF BERMUDA continued her good progress with an impressive win over the minimum trip at Windsor having earlier been beaten by subsequent Queen Mary third Shades Of Blue. The Haggas filly gets the nod but another filly in Moonlight Romance has to come into the reckoning given Wesley Ward has won this twice before and has already had a winner here this week. The French raider Junius Brutus, Chapelli and James Watt all remain unbeaten and Jungle Inthebungle won a conditions race at Beverley last time.

4.20 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1)

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Views from connections

Ben Hayes - Redkirk Warrior

"He's a lovely, relaxed horse and he's very easy to deal with. I've been training just over two years, and he's by far the best horse I've ever trained. He comes here a lovely, fresh horse. When he's had 100 days-plus off, he's got a great record, so we're not bothered about him being fresh. It just depends how he handles the day, but he's definitely got the ability to win."

Clive Cox - Harry Angel

"I don't particularly lose any sleep that he has not got his head in front there. I think it's more coincidence rather than a serious problem. Although there wasn't a huge field, it was really pleasing at York and he came out of it well. I think, mentally, it's always nice for most horses, especially sprinters, to get back in the groove. We were pleased he took that first test well and we're very happy with him."

Aidan O'Brien - Merchant Navy, Intelligence Cross, Spirit Of Valor

"We ran him at the Curragh hoping for a nice run. It was very good and we couldn't have been happier with it, really. It is a very competitive race. We are just delighted to have him here, really. Intelligence Cross maybe wants seven furlongs, but he does go fast and hard, and Spirit Of Valor ran a lovely race last time at the Curragh and he was just beaten in the Jersey last year."

Wesley Ward - Bound For Nowhere

"He's undefeated in the States so far and in his last race he bounded away from the best sprinters in the US. I think he's going to be tough (to beat)."

Dean Ivory - Librisa Breeze

"I pulled him out of the Lockinge at Newbury as he had a runny nose. There was no point running him in a Group One if he wasn't quite right so we've given him a bit of time off. With him you have to take it a race at a time."

James Fanshawe - The Tin Man

"He looks fantastic and seems in good form at home so we cannot ask for much more. It is a hot race but he loves Ascot and when he is well he always runs a good race. "

Charlie Appleby - D'bai

"He just showed his bit of class at Haydock in the way he travelled. They are going to go hard in the Diamond Jubilee and I am hoping he will be able to travel and come on to the scene late on."

Man On The Spot Verdict

Harry Angel found only Caravaggio too good in the Commonwealth Cup here last year with Bound For Nowhere back in fourth. Clive Cox’ sprinter has won a couple of Group 1 sprints subsequently and warmed up for this with a cosy win at York on his reappearance. Merchant Navy made a winning start for Aidan O’Brien in a Group 2 at the Curragh having previously raced in Australia but he only finished third at Flemington in March behind REDKIRK WARRIOR (NAP), despite receiving 12lb. The latter has won three times at the highest level Down Under and looks sure to make a bold bid in this partnered by Frankie Dettori. The Tin Man had Librisa Breeze back in fourth when landing last year’s renewal and beat Projection at Windsor on his reappearance. But he found Harry Angel too good on a couple of occasions last season while French raider City Light will find this much tougher than when winning the All-Weather Sprint Championships at Lingfield in March.

5.00 Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

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Views from connections

John Gosden - Dreamfield

"Everyone says that Dreamfield is the handicap certainty of the week, but I have never met one in my life, yet. He's in good form and has worked fine at home. He obviously missed a year and a half and is not very experienced. I have been trying to box clever, probably too clever."

Richard Fahey - Brian the Snail, George Bowen, Growl and Mr Lupton

"It was great to see Brian The Snail win at Doncaster last week. We’ve always thought of a lot of him. He’s drawn 25 – all of mine are 20 or above – and with his ability it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Brian win a race like this. He needs to back up quickly from last week and find a bit more but hopefully he has a confidence back.

"George Bowen has run well on his last two starts but needs to step up again. He needs to be a 100 plus horse to win this but could run well. If high is good in terms of the draw he has a small chance.

"Growl is in great form and I do think he’s well handicapped. It’s just a question of whether the ground has dried up too much for him. He’s stuck out in stall 31 which isn’t ideal but on homework he’d be the one and Paul Hanagan has picked him. We just need luck.

"Mr Lupton is a strange horse who loves these big handicaps. It won’t be easy for him from a mark of 106 following his win at York last time but he’d have an each-way chance if things fall right."

Man On The Spot Verdict

It’s strange to see such a one-sided betting market for this notoriously competitive sprint. But that’s down to the impression the unbeaten DREAMFIELD left when making a winning return over course and distance. The Godolphin colt missed the whole of last year through injury but beat the re-opposing Silent Echo with the minimum of fuss here last month and an entry in next month’s Group 1 Darley Stakes suggests there’s plenty more to come. Undrafted is not the force of old having won the Diamond Jubilee here back in 2015 but could still figure in this while Out Do won last year’s renewal off a similar mark. Intisaab finished in front of Tommy Taylor when scoring at Haydock last month but the latter’s stablemate Major Jumbo was beaten by Mr Lupton at York last month. That one, Brian The Snail and Growl make most appeal of Richard Fahey’s contingent while Blue De Vega, Victory Angel, Gilgamesh and Tupi are others worthy of consideration.

5.35 Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Race)

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Man On The Spot Verdict

Thomas Hobson won the Ascot Stakes over 2m4f here last year before finishing runner-up in this only four days later. He arrives fresh this time having finished sixth in the Melbourne Cup in November and Willie Mullins’ charge is the one to beat. He’s preferred to stable companions Meri Devi and Renneti but a chance is taken COUNT OCTAVE improves for today’s marathon trip given he was beaten only a neck by this week’s Gold Cup hero Stradivarius in last year’s Queen Vase over 1m6f here - Andrew Balding’s four-year-old gets the nod. Light Pillar is another of interest on only his third start for Joseph O’Brien having placed for Andre Fabre in Listed company in France last year but Glencadam Glory will have to settle better than he did over 2m at Sandown last time if he’s to last home. A smart stayer on the Flat, Pallasator has been winning in top company over hurdles for Gordon Elliott, who sent out the winner in 2016, while Nearly Caught finished ahead of stablemate Fun Mac when winning the Listed Esher Stakes over 2m at Sandown last year and is another with a shout on these terms