Diamond Jubilee Stakes Guide 2021

Dream of Dreams for Sir Michael Stoute has twice consecutively hit the crossbar in this race and is looking to make it 3rd time lucky with conditions looking to suit.

The son of Dream Ahead has warmed up nicely ahead of todays race with a win in listed company last time out at Windsor (6f) upon soft ground and was particularly unlucky behind Hello Youmazin in last years renewal when just failing to reach the leader and going down by an eventual head.

The now 7yo gelding will appreciate the soft underfoot conditions, whilst his RPR of the previous 2 attempts at this race, of 121 & 120 respectively, look top drawer and if replicated will have him as difficult to stop.

The Duke of York stakes (6f) often sets the tone for this top level 6f division for the remainder of the season and connections of Nahaarr will be hoping for little difference this year.

William Haggas' entrant chased home re-opposing rival, Starman, in the event last time out, proving himself on the step up to the grade.

Connections will have targeted at this race on the back of that effort and he now looks ready to make a breakthrough at Group 1 level.

He's tipped to reverse the form on Starman now they're racing upon testing conditions and that brings him right into the mix in this one.

Starman is a progressive type for Ed Walker and highlighted that last time out with his Group 2 win in the Duke of York stakes (6f) ahead of re-opposing rival Nahaarr.

That form was also backed up by the well beaten 3rd placed horse home that day, Oxted, who landed the King's Stand Stakes (5f) here at the festival on Tuesday.

Upon better ground Starman would be the leading contender in this field, however that proposition is altered by the obstacle of heavy underfoot conditions by which Starman has been unsuited to in the past.

His Ascot form also came upon those soft underfoot conditions and was Starman's only loss to date, a 14th of 16 placed finish in the Champion Sprint Stakes (G1, 6f).

Archie Watson trained, Glen Shiel, looks a decent value pick in the race, especially given that he'll relish upon the soft underfoot conditions.

The son of Pivotal's C&D form is solid thanks to his Group 1 victory at the track on his final run last year in the Champions Sprint Stakes (6f) and finished just 1 1/4 lengths behind re-opposing rival Dream of Dreams in the Sprint Cup at Haydock (G1, 6f) in the race prior.

The 7yo gelding was 4th on his re-appearance in the Greenlands Stakes (G2, 6f) in Ireland and is entitled to come on from that run on his 2nd effort back.

He does have a task in reversing that form with Dream of Dreams but that certainly isn't unattainable.

Tim Easterby trained, Art Power, progressed nicely as a 3yo, scoring here at Ascot over 5f in a class 2, 21 runner handicap at the festival before upgrading to land a Group 3 at Naas (6f) next time out.

The son of Dark Angel will appreciate the soft underfoot conditions, however has failed to break through at group 1 level in 3 attempts and has an uphill task at reversing the form with Dream of Dreams, Glen Shiel, Nahaar and Starman whom he has encountered in his last 3 races.

Irish raider, Sonaiyla, for trainer Paddy Twomey, was a listed winner at 6f and 7f as a 4yo in Ireland.

The daughter of Dark Angel has then gone on to upgrade the last twice, firstly on her comeback run with a 3rd placed effort in Group 3 company (6f) before subsequently landing the Ballyogan Stakes (G3, 6f) at Curragh last time out upon yielding ground.

She's a progressive 5yo and should improve once more here, however it will need to be an absolute careers best performance at this Group 1 level.

Final Song is Frankie Dettori's mount in the race and she looked good in Dubai this spring when winning a Group 3 (6f) before stepping up once more to finish runner-up in a Group 1 event (6f) behind King's Stand Stakes (G1, 5f) 3rd placed finisher Extravagant Kid.

Saeed Bin Surror has been in fantastic form of late, however his filly was unable to replicate her form in the middle east when back on British soil last time out in the Duke of York stakes (G2, 6f) when finishing in 9th behind re-opposing rivals Starman, Nahaarr and Summerghand.

Has it all to prove here and has a tough task in reversing that form, especially given she's unsuited to bottomless ground on past form.

Summerghand, finished 2nd in the Wokingham at last years festival (cl2, 6f) which is fairly decent form at the track.

David O'Meara's entrant has already won twice this season, firstly on the all-weather (cl2, 6f), before subsequently landing Group 3 spoils in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket (G3, 6f).

The son of Lope De Vega has a mixed bag of results on soft ground, however his running style is well suited to Ascot given he is held up in the rear and brought into races off the pace.

Having said this, his 4th placed finish last time out, 4 1/4 lengths off the pace behind Starman and Nahaarr in the Duke of York stakes (G2, 6f) looks like tough form to reverse on what will already be his 8th run this season.

Royal Commando looks to have made great progress from a 3yo to a 4yo, signified by his impressive listed win last time out over the 6f distance.

The son of No Nay Never, although not so impressive on soft in the past over 7f, should be suited to the ground and may just spring a surprise in this race if progressing once more this season.

It's a sharp increase in class and he remains untested over a stiff Ascot 6f in bottomless ground, however offers an interesting proposition at a big price.

Ventura Rebel ran a big race on his final run as a 3yo to land the Renaissance Stakes at Curragh (G3, 6f).

The son of Pastoral Pursuits should benefit from the soft ground on offer here and possess' a fair record at Ascot with overall form of: 123, thanks to his class 2 win and Group 2 runner up finish as a 2yo before running out as 3rd place in the Commonwealth Cup (G1, 6f) at the Royal Ascot meeting last year.

He clearly was in need of the run when finishing 5th in the Duke of York stakes (G2, 6f) last time out and is entitled to improve for that effort.

Despite this, he has almost 5 lengths to find on Starman and Nahaarr, although it will all boil down to who deals with the ground best on the day.

Happy Power for Andrew Balding progressed well into a group horse last season as a 4yo, landing both the Goodwood Supreme Stakes (G3, 7f) before subsequently scoring next time out in a Group 2 event at Newmarket (7f).

The son of Dark Angel is proven on soft and its an interesting proposition dropping back to 6f given he's raced over a mile the last twice and looks optimal over 7f.

Having said this, he does have potential to become a sprinter and clearly has the stamina to deal with the bottomless ground down at 6f.

May just be exposed to some of the pace some of these sprinters posses however, regardless of the ground conditions.

Namos a German raider has a trainer in Dominik Moser who has enjoyed British sprint success with his runners in the past and can be known as fairly shrewd, only bringing over horses who will be competitive in the UK racing sphere.

Namos is a multiple group 3 winner over both 6f and 7f distances, so clearly has the stamina to deal with a stiff Ascot 6f test.

His encounter with soft ground at Newmarket however over the 7f trip in a Group 2 event, didn't go quite as planned with a 6th placed finish and a near 8 length beating by race winner and re-opposing rival, Happy Power.

Being out of Medicean who's progeny are known to prefer firmish ground, conditions are not looking to suit once more here and he may just struggle.

Garrus for trainer Charles Hills looks an interesting proposition in the race given his 2nd placed finish in a strong Newbury handicap over 5f by which he beat subsequent listed winner Kings Lynn

He remains massively unexposed over 6f and step back up to the distance may well should suit.

Despite this, he doesn’t necessarily want soft ground and may struggle with the conditions on offer aswell as the sharp raise in class to a Group 1 event.