Mike Cattermole's day five Royal Ascot preview and tips

In spite of the obvious appeal of Big Orange, Limato remains just about my favourite Flat horse but can he bounce back to his best in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on the final day at Royal Ascot?

Ryan Moore, who has more good rides in store, teams up with him for the second time, following the bizarre sacking of Harry Bentley. If Limato can return to the sort of form that netted the July Cup and Prix de la Foret last season, then he is very much the one to beat.

Sadly, his last two starts, both overseas, have not seen him in the best light for various reasons but he has the form in the book and the acceleration to take this. Crucially, the ground is in his favour. My heart hopes he does, my head is not so sure.

The pace angle is not obvious and might complicate things although Suedois, drawn nine, likes to be handy and is visored first time.

The Tin Man is another personal favourite and it was great to see him win his first Group One in the Champions Sprint Stakes here last October on good ground. He too has a potent turn of foot.

James Fanshawe’s gelding had a 5lb penalty to overcome in the Duke Of York Stakes and shaped pretty well in fifth behind Tasleet but was beaten over six lengths. He has to be respected, though.

The feeling is that Tasleet didn’t get the credit he deserved at York because he won that Group Two contest incredibly easily. He travelled sweetly just off the pace and when Jim Crowley switched him he absolutely took off and was far too good for Magical Memory who don’t forget, was a very close fourth in this last year.

Magical Memory was, however, making his reappearance and is entitled to come on for the run.

The York race was on soft ground but Tasleet handles quick too and the key to riding him might have been discovered at York.

Librisa Breeze is another one that will be played late and he is unexposed at this trip and might be a little better than his sixth to The Tin Man here last October. 

The Right Man sprung a bit of a surprise when landing the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in March but the ground had moved in his favour and he has yet to race on a fast surface.

Where do you start with the Wokingham? There is pace down the centre (Birchwood and Muntadab) and Edward Lewis (drawn seven) intrigues me as he was so unlucky in the Dash at Epsom and missed the big five-furlong handicap at Musselburgh to run in this.

Although he has made his improvement over the minimum trip, he has won at six furlongs before, the ground comes alike to him and he has the speed to travel into this and get involved at the finish.

I also like the chances of Eastern Impact, drawn next to Edward Lewis, who races off a mark of 104 these days, having reached a peak of 113 when winning a Group 3 here in October of 2015. His most recent run at Newmarket behind Mr Lupton was a real return to form - on quick ground - and he appeals each-way at 16/1 with Sky Bet.

Because they are both drawn low, it leaves me a little exposed on the stands’ side so I will give an honourable mention to the likeable course and distance winner Normandy Barriere, drawn 26.

It is hard to see past September in the opening Chesham Stakes. A daughter of Deep Impact and top filly Peeping Fawn, she got her career off to a great start at Leopardstown (yielding) earlier in the month when romping home by five and a half lengths.

Although the time was nothing special and the form has yet to be tested, it was significant that she is the only juvenile from Ballydoyle to have won on her debut this season.  Usually they improve hugely from their introductions so she could be very good.

Of the others, Optimum Time is worth a mention. It wasn’t much of a race he won at Windsor but he was undeniably impressive and Eve Johnson Houghton is enjoying a good season.

Having won his last three starts, Khairat is going to be favourite for the Wolferton Handicap. Reappearing after eight months off at Chester last month, he made all to beat a field of smart handicappers very easily indeed and he is faced with a 13lb hike to overcome.

Central Square shaped well at Newmarket and enjoys top-of-the-ground but I just get the feeling he is high enough in the weights.

The narrow vote goes to Mythical Madness who is in top form after a second at Epsom and a convincing win at Haydock. He has been raised 5lb which is reasonable and he should go well.

The Hardwicke Stakes lost a few stars to the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes on Wednesday but it is still a good race and The Queen’s Dartmouth is taken to follow up his win of 12 months ago.

The surprise last year was how well Dartmouth handled the soft ground then as he had always looked a fast ground specialist hitherto; his defeat of Highland Reel looks excellent now.

Given his very Royal connection, it would have been tough for Ryan Moore to desert him in favour of Idaho who is nonetheless a major threat on the back of his fine placed efforts in last year’s Epsom and Irish Derbys.

My Dream Boat wears cheekpieces for the first time, which may help, but he looked as though he was starting to think a little bit last time out as he took an age to pick up under very hard riding. 

Thomas Hobson, who won the Ascot Stakes so well here on Tuesday, bids to “do a Simenon” by following up in the Queen Alexandra Stakes. 

However Ryan Moore is claimed to ride US Army Ranger, last year’s Derby runner-up who has not really gone on. He could have the class to win this but it is an interesting option taken for him.

Qewy is only rated 2lb his inferior and relishes a stamina test, being runner-up in last year’s Ascot Stakes. He showed much better form when fourth in the Melbourne Cup last November and he looks sure to go well.

SELECTIONS:

2.30 SEPTEMBER, 3.05 MYTHICAL MADNESS, 3.40 DARTMOUTH, 4.20 TASLEET, 5.00 EASTERN IMPACT and EDWARD LEWIS (BOTH EW) 5.35 QEWY