Trainers deliver their verdicts as Limato leads the charge

Diamond Jubilee Stakes | Group 1 | 4yo+ | 6f | ITV/RUK

When Limato is good, he is very good, but there have been times he has not quite fired.

That usually occurs when there is ease in the ground or he has been stretched out to a mile, and it was the former used as an alibi when he was well beaten in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in March.

Harry Bentley was aboard that day, as he had been for Group 1 victories in last year's July Cup and Prix de la Foret, but owner Paul Jacobs wanted a change of hands, so Ryan Moore takes over, although he has previous on the son of Tagula, having been second on him in the 2015 Foret.

"He pulled muscles in Dubai, but is in good form now and the ground will be perfect," said trainer Henry Candy, who won the Diamond Jubilee with the Moore-ridden Twilight Son 12 months ago. "There are no negatives."

Pros
Highest-rated horse in the field and conditions should suit

Cons
Connections have to hope his Dubai defeat hasn't left its mark

Doyle's Magical chance

James Doyle has played a starring role as supersub for Frankie Dettori already this week and connections will be hoping he can repeat the trick on Magical Memory, who was fourth in this race 12 months ago as the 3-1 favourite.

Things did not pan out for the grey that day, although no fault lies with the sidelined Dettori, and the five-year-old, who runs in the colours of Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds I, has delighted trainer Charlie Hills this spring.

He returned to action with a pleasing second in the Duke of York Stakes at the Dante meeting last month and Doyle, who guided Dettori's intended mount Big Orange to a thrilling victory in Thursday's Gold Cup, will find a willing partner who has won six of his 19 parts and should be effective even if the rain arrives.

"He looks great and I couldn't be more pleased with him," Hills said. "His weight's good and he's moving well. The ground should be fine for him, so I'm really looking forward to the race – I couldn't wish for him to be in any better form.

"He's got an outstanding chance and while it's a real shame Frankie Dettori has been ruled out of the race with an arm injury, James Doyle is a fine replacement and Magical is very uncomplicated and straightforward."

Pros
Rock-solid sprinter should be on the scene and connections have always thought him up to this level

Cons
Has come up short in four goes in Group 1s

No doubting Tasleet's talent

Doubt has no place in training racehorses. The problem is it can be a terrible thing to shake off if a horse has confounded you on his most recent outing.

William Haggas thought he knew what Tasleet wanted. The horse then produced his best-ever performance on soft ground in the Duke of York Stakes last month, leaving Haggas wondering whether he knew the four-year-old as well as he thought.

Back on faster ground on Saturday – weather permitting – Tasleet bids to show everyone he is the top-drawer sprinter he looked at York.

Tasleet: son of Showcasing runs out an impressive winner of the Group 2 Duke of York StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

“The going will be a lot faster than at York but I used to think that was key for him. I’m not so sure now after last time,” Haggas said. “He’s in good form and he’s taking on a lot of horses he ran against at York on ground that will suit them more.

“I’m a little worried about the draw as well, as he’s down the middle and that’s not appeared to be the place to be this week.”

Pros
Produced an outstanding performance to win the Duke of York Stakes last time

Con
That run came on soft ground and he is drawn in stall 12, which could be a disadvantage

Tin Man out to prove mettle

Fred Archer was a winning machine at Royal Ascot, once winning a record 12 races at the meeting in 1878 among a hatful of success at the fixture.

Nicknamed ‘The Tin Man’, Archer’s equine equivalent fluffed his lines on his sole visit to the royal meeting when eighth of nine in this contest last year.

It proved no obstacle to success as he landed the Champions Sprint back over the Diamond Jubilee course and distance on Qipco British Champions Day, and connections expect him to have improved for his comeback run at York.

Tom Queally and the Tin Man (centre) en route to winning the British Champions SprintCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Trainer James Fanshawe said: “He ran nicely first time at York, where he just got a bit tired in the ground. Things have gone smoothly since and we're looking forward to the race.

“He won on soft ground last year and his family like cut in the ground, but conditions are not so important to him, and we know he likes the track. We’re hoping he'll run well but it's difficult to tell as he never shows much at home.”

Pros
Talented sprinter whose best performances have come over course and distance.

Cons
Never fired in this race last year and may prefer the ground easier.

What they say

Martyn Meade, trainer of Aclaim
He was wrong in his blood after Newbury so you can put a line through that run. He ran a stinker but at least it was explainable. He's in good order now and we think the way he is at the moment that six furlongs is the way to go. He's won on the straight course and I think he's going there to run a big race.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Comicas
Comicas produced a career-best when second in the Golden Shaheen and I felt he put up a respectable effort back on turf at York last time. He came out of that race okay and has won on quick ground before, so the going shouldn’t be an issue. He has a bit to find on the ratings but I'm hoping he can run well.

Fabrice Chappet, trainer of Finsbury Square
He's shown he deserves his place among the best sprinters in Europe, notably when a close up fourth in the Prix de l’Abbaye from a bad draw. He's never been out of the first four except unfortunately on his two starts abroad – at Goodwood and in Dubai –both times when he had problems leaving the stalls.

Richard Fahey, trainer of Growl
We’re very happy with him and any rain would help. This is his trip.

Tom Dascombe, trainer of Kachy
We feel like we’re not quite getting the best out of him at the moment and we can’t really find the reason why. He’s running well to the two pole, not finding anything and then Richard [Kingscote] can’t pull him up afterwards. We’re putting on a tongue-tie to see if it helps and bringing him back to where he ran a career-best.

Dean Ivory, trainer of Librisa Breeze
He's very well and has pleased me at home. It’s the beginning of what we hope will be a great season for the horse. I'm hoping for a drop of rain as the ground is a concern.

Riley Mott, son of and assistant to Bill Mott, trainer of Long On Value
Long On Value takes everything in his stride. Going to Dubai he didn’t miss a beat and I think he’s shipped just as good, if not better for this trip. I don't think the odds reflected the chance we thought he had [when second at 66-1 in the Al Quoz Sprint] but it was off-season for the European group and we expect a greater challenge.

Mick Channon, trainer of Mobsta and Kassia
I couldn't be happier with Kassia. She's going to the race in good form and I can see her running a big race. I could do with some rain for Mobsta as he's never run on fast ground. But we'll give it a go and see, as he's in good heart.

Didier Guillemin, trainer of The Right Man
I always planned to come straight from the win at Meydan to here. I think he’s in the same shape as in March and he never runs a bad race, with the exception of last year’s Prix Maurice de Gheest. Since then he's been in top form.

Brian Meehan, trainer of Windfast
He’s in exceptional form and we’re really looking forward to running him. He should love the ground and we think he can run a very big race.

Rupert Pritchard-Gordon, representative of Al Shaqab, owners of Al Jazi
We saw how effective she was with a fast pace in front of her at Goodwood last year and, with age, she seems to have strengthened up. The timing works well ahead of Deauville and Francois [Rohaut] feels the end-to-end pace is what she wants. A stiff six furlongs here shouldn’t bother her at all, given how she ran over an easy seven at Goodwood. She worked well the other day and it’s time to find out about her in an open race.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Dancing Star
She ran well last time and she's as good as we had her last year now and back towards her best. This is obviously a step up in class.